Soaring diphtheria cases, falsiparum malaria trigger panic in Kozhikode

KOZHIKODE: The suspected cases of diphtheria reported in the district have gone up to 37 with the latest case coming from Kallachi on Thursday. Three cases of confirmed falsiparum malaria in Koyilandy beach have raised concern among health officials. All the cases are indigenous and this is the first outbreak since it was reported in Elathur coast a few months back.

“They have been admitted to hospital and precautions have been taken in the beach area,” said district medical officer Dr R.L. Saritha. Steps like conducting awareness programmes, collecting blood samples, dropping guppy fish in wells etc would be carried out in the coming days. The DMO said that there was no shortage of Td vaccine in the district.

“More quantities of the same would reach on time,” she said. In the wake of the spread of diphtheria among adults, the public are also going for vaccination. Many private companies have asked the staff to go for vaccination and more number of people is approaching government and private hospitals to get vaccinated.