Rising Infectious Diseases in Kerala: Dengue and H1N1 Cases Surge

In Kerala, a concerning surge in infectious diseases, notably dengue and H1N1 cases, is causing alarm among health officials. The state has witnessed a three-fold rise in dengue cases and a ten-fold increase in H1N1 cases compared to the previous year. Private hospitals failing to report accurate disease data to the State Health Directorate has led to underreporting, and the actual figures could be even higher.

Last year, Kerala recorded 4,432 dengue cases with 29 fatalities. However, this year, the number of affected individuals has soared to 12,518, resulting in 44 deaths. Similarly, H1N1 cases jumped from 90 last year to 910 this year, with 52 fatalities reported in the first ten months.

Additionally, cases of chickenpox have risen significantly, reaching 22,628 cases and resulting in four deaths this year. On the positive side, there has been a slight decrease in Scrub typhus cases, dropping from 725 cases and 20 fatalities last year to 422 cases and 10 deaths this year. However, leptospirosis, also known as rat fever, remains a concern, with 1,807 reported cases and 74 deaths this year.

One of the primary reasons cited for the surge in diseases is poor sanitation and changing climatic conditions. Health officials attribute the rise in leptospirosis cases to the lack of proper sanitation, especially in waterlogged areas, where daily wage workers, often employed under government schemes, are exposed to polluted water bodies filled with plastic waste.

To address the situation, health officials have recommended the preventive use of Doxycycline pills, particularly for individuals working in waterlogged areas and stagnant water bodies. These pills, provided free of cost in government health centers, are effective against water-borne diseases, including rat fever. Despite efforts to mitigate the situation, the rising number of infectious diseases poses a significant challenge to public health in Kerala.