Kochi: Dengue fever cases go up

Kochi: The dengue fever cases in the district have gone up alarmingly and nearly doubled compared to last year, calling for drastic measures by authorities and active participation of individual households to fight the growing mosquito menace. A total of 385 confirmed cases of dengue fever have been reported so far in the Ernakulam district as against 240 cases in the whole of last year, said N. K. Kuttappan, the district medical officer. While during the start of the year, more cases were reported from hilly regions like Kothamangalam, the second half saw the cases being reported from the corporation and municipal areas, calling for urgent action.

“Initially, the disease was found affecting people in the hilly belt on Idukki-Ernakulam border where a lot of cocoa, pineapple and rubber fields are there. The natural containers in such areas of plantation crops were ideal for mosquito larvae to grow. Due to less price in the market, many farmers didn’t bother to pluck their products. Water got accumulated in dried bowls of cocoa fruits, hollows of dried branches of rubber trees and the curves of pineapple leaves, providing a perfect habitat for larvae,” the official said.

Health officials succeeded in bringing the situation under control by indulging in activities like the fogging and awareness campaigns on preventing mosquito breeding. The figures with the district health office, however, showed dengue fever cases swelling out of the corporation and municipal areas too– thanks to numerous construction sites and unscientific waste disposal.

Public participation is vital since stagnant water in the house and surroundings acts as mosquito generating sources. The health authorities have deputed more field staff in the area, and they disseminate information on how to prevent breeding of mosquitoes. Meanwhile, the Kochi Corporation is set to launch a drive to control the mosquito population from Monday. “Intense fogging drive using vehicle-mounted machine will be done, especially at West Kochi region,” said V. K. Minimol, the chairperson of health standing committee.