One dies of dengue; Defence team in full swing

Thiruvananthapuram, June 11 (UNI) With the first report of dengue related death in Kerala, the toll in viral infection rose to 39, even as the Defence medical teams plunged into action in the worst effected districts, setting up medical camps and helping the state medical personnel in vector control and sanitation measures.

The first case of dengue death was reported from Kottayam district, where the largest cases of viral fever had been detected, sources in the Health Directorate said.

Though the government had confirmed 39 deaths due to the epidemic, the local media put the toll at more than 80.

Meanwhile, a high-level scientific team from the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, today left for Alappuazha and would be engaged in investigating positive cases of chikungunya and dengue, Defence sources said.

Apart from Alappuzha, the team would visit Kottayam, Idukki, Pathanamthitta and Kollam. Lt Col Rajesh (epidemiologist), Col Satish (virologist), an entomologist and a microbiologist are in the team, sources said.

With one more camp at Pathanamthitta, the Defence had established two medical camps here. Another medical team from the Pangode Military camp today left for Kollam to identify areas to set up a medical camp there from tomorrow morning.

The Defence teams were also engaged in fogging and spraying to contain the spread of mosquitoes in the affected regions, defence sources said and added that they were now concentrating on the curative and preventive aspects.

A report from Kochi said the medical team at Kottayam attended to about 60 patients yesterday besides undertaking fogging and spraying activities at Veyur. The team treated about 600 patients at a camp site in Punjar and 550 patients at a camp in Erumelli.

The medical team in Idukki also held two camps-- first at the Travancore Tea Rubber Estate in Peruvandanam Gram Panchayat dispensary where about 200 patients were attended to, all with similar symptoms of chikungunya, besides about 10 in-patients, the report said. The team later visited Cheravalli where about 230 patients have received medical treatment.

Meanwhile, a third medical team fully equipped with medicines and equipment was ready at the Naval base in Kochi for deployment to Muvattupuzha as required by the health authorities there.

Report from Kottayam said Health Minister P K Sreemathy visited Kanjirappally, Koottickal, Mundakkayam, Erattupetta, Meenachil and other areas in Kottayam district and evaluated the steps taken by the authorities.

The total number of suspected cases of chikungunya was 7,128, and as many as 13,880 cases of viral fever had been detected in the state till yesterday, sources said. The figure is likely to go up with more cases being reported from the affected regions.

UNI