THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A medical team of Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) will visit the state capital to study the causes of malaria outbreak reported at Vizhinjam, Mukkola region.
As many as 25 malaria cases including a case of cerebral malaria were reported in the coastal belt within a fortnight which has set off alarm bells ringing among health authorities.
The team would be carrying out inspections in affected areas, study the vector density and collect samples from the victims to reach a conclusion on the causes and recommend to the health authorities on new strategies that should be followed to prevent further spread of the disease. A senior health official said that the victim affected with cerebral malaria was out of danger.
Additional director of health services Ramesh R. told DC that the team was visiting the state at the request of the directorate of health services (DHS).
“The team would be evaluating our activities and it’s always good to get the opinion of an external agency during a time of crisis. We have stepped up active surveillance and prompt treatment and field activities have helped a lot,” said Mr Ramesh. He said that the team would help evolve an effective strategy.
“Coastal belts across the state are vulnerable to all kind of communicable diseases. Mosquito eradication and maintaining public hygiene is the key and the local bodies should step up these activities. Health authorities can provide only technical assistance and take care of the health care needs of citizens,” said Mr Ramesh.
A senior health official said that cerebral malaria was one of the deadly forms of malaria. “We detected one case and we have stepped up surveillance as it spreads from the affected person very fast,” said the official. So far the health authorities have visited around 892 houses and covered a population of 4,949.
