Dengue on rise in Kozhikode

KOZHIKODE: The sharp increase in dengue fever cases in the district has sent alarm bells across the medical fraternity. In January this year, there were only 19 suspected cases of which nine were confirmed whereas in May it went up to 811, of which more than 101 were confirmed. So far three persons have died in which two were suspected deaths and on one confirmed death, according to the Integrated Disease Surveillance programme data.

In 2016, there were only 795 suspected dengue cases in the district of which 151 were confirmed. This year so far 1,044 cases were reported of which 153 confirmed and is going up. The most hit regions are Koorachundu, Panangad, Kakkoor, Nanmanda and Ramanattukara. The summer showers in plantation zones resulted in the spread of the fever, which is through mosquitoes.

DMO Dr Asha Devi told DC that the department was on with a massive campaign among people to check the mosquito threat. Its breeding grounds are the plantations with withered leaves, garden pots, water collected in dumped plastic and tarpaulin, etc., she said. The water from the summer shower collected in such spots would provide ideal breeding environs for the mosquitoes, she added. "Even 5-ml water is enough for the breeding,” she pointed out. “People should be more alert.”