Kerala man tests positive for black fever; health department says 'don’t panic'

According to the department, there is no reason to panic as it has initiated preventive measures in the said area. 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Triggering concerns among health workers, a 38-year-old person undergoing treatment at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital has tested positive with visceral leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar or black fever. “Shibu, a resident of Villumala Adivasi colony in Kulathupuzha, Kollam, arrived at the MCH complaining of dizziness and stomach ache. We sent him to the RCC for a bone marrow test and he tested positive with kala-azar,” said a Health Department officer. According to the department, there is no reason to panic as it has initiated preventive measures in the said area. 

“As a case of kala-azar was reported, a team comprising the Kollam District Medical Officer, district surveillance officer, Vector Control Unit and Malaria Unit was rushed to the spot to assess the situation. Also a meeting of peoples’ representatives and health workers were convened and preventive measures have been chalked out,” said Health Minister K K Shylaja. 

According to the minister, as the sandfly has been recognised as the agent, it has been decided to start indoor residual spraying in the area to eradicate it.She added a medical camp by experts from the Health Department and Thiruvananthapuram MCH will be conducted in the affected area. 

The Health Department officer said apart from a plan to conduct an awareness campaign among colony dwellers to maintain hygiene to control the sandfly, the Veterinary Department has been asked to collect blood samples of animals in the area, to ensure that humans, as well as animals, are free from sandfly bites. 

According to the officer, a medical camp will be conducted in the area for detecting cases of pancytopenia (deficiency of red cells, white cells and platelets) of the blood and splenomegaly (abnormal enlargement of the spleen), two prime indicators of kala-azar.

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