468 medical teams despatched to 6 flood-hit areas of Gujarat

Ahmedabad, Aug 3 (UNI) In a move to prevent any out-break of post-monsoon epidemic, Gujarat Health Minister Ashok Bhatt today said a total of 468 medical teams and food inspectors have been sent to six flood-affected districts of the state.

A total of 18 leptospirosis deaths were reported this season in the South Gujarat districts of Surat, Navsari and Valsad.

Mr Ashok Bhatt told UNI, ''The teams will monitor the health situation in the districts and provide medical care. Doctors and well-equipped medical vans have been pressed into service. Food inspectors will also see to it that vegetables which have rotted are destroyed. Chlorine tablets will be distributed in the districts.'' Teams have already been sent to these districts and also to Vadodara, Anand, and Kheda in Central Gujarat, he said.

Though there has been no large outbreak of any diseases, he said the government was not taking any chances.

Bhatt said that people are being given medical attention even if they have a slight fever.

''It will be easier to control fever at the initial stages. So we are advising people to get admitted even if they have fever,'' he disclosed. Dialysis equipment have been provided in the civil hospitals and more doctors deputed in Surat, Navsari and Valsad to attend to any leptospirosis cases.

''A total of 18 cases have been reported so far,'' he revealed.

Malaria prevention cells have been activated too, and preventive medicinal wings of the Ahmedabad medical college and Vadodara medical college are monitoring the relief operations, he added.

UNI MMG WD LS GC2123