MALAPPURAM: Even as the cleanup and awareness drives are in full swing in Kuttippuram, where two of a family died of diarrhoea, the number of infected people are on the rise. At least 116 persons have sought treatment at the Taluk Hospital, Kuttippuram, during the past three days. On Saturday alone, 38 people with diarrhoea symptoms have reached there. Around ten patients who needed emergency medical attention were admitted so far. If the infected who approached private hospitals were taken into account, it could go up further.
Two deaths due to diarrhoea and the outbreak of cholera had put the public health in Kuttippuram in peril. The panchayat authorities have started cracking down on eateries for not maintaining hygiene along with other immediate clean up measures. It was found that the drainages in the town carry bacteria which causes cholera and diarrhoea.
Meanwhile, the traders and political parties have protested and marched to the panchayat office on Saturday after the panchayat secretary gave two restaurants closure notices. Health minister K.K. Shylaja will visit Kuttippuram on Monday to assess the situation. The minister has called a day-long meeting in two sessions on Monday in Malappuram as part of strengthening diphtheria immunisation drive, district collector S. Venkatesapathy said.
Besides the top official of the health department, MPs, MLAs, heads of civic bodies, health standing committee chiefs and representatives of political and religious organisations will attend the special meeting. The meet will discuss the plan to achieve total immunisation in the district, the collector said.
