Monsoon showers have just hit Ernakulam and the district is already reeling under the threat of epidemic.
Adding to the woes of the authorities was the non-cooperative stand taken by government doctors at such a crucial time.
The indefinite strike launched by government doctors the other day had badly affected the functioning of government hospitals.
District Medical Officer Haseena Muhammed said 413 dengue fever cases had already been reported from government and private hospitals in the district while 191 dengue cases were confirmed in the last five months.
“75 rat fever cases and 34 hepatitis-A, 30 hepatitis-B, four hepatitis-C and two hepatitis-E cases were also reported in the district. Areas where monsoon epidemics have been reported are Thrikkakkara, Udayamperoor, Amballur, Aluva, Elamkunnapuzha, Chottanikkara and Kochi city,”Haseena Muhammed said.
According to official statistics, around 800 fever cases were reported in various government hospitals in the district on Saturday.
Seven suspected dengue fever cases from both private and government hospitals in the district were also reported on the same day.
One person was admitted with symptoms of rat fever in Kothamangalam.
The Amritha Hospital, PVS Hospital and Medical Centre Hospital here and a private hospital in Moovattupuzha also reportedly attended dengue cases.
“The out-patient and in-patient sections will be functional in all government hospitals. However, data collection from various government hospitals was disrupted due to the strike,” she said. Review meetings at block and district levels will be held on Wednesday and Friday, following which further steps will be taken. Kerala Government Medical Officers Association district president T K Vinod said doctors would not refrain themselves from serving the patients. However, the decision of the Kerala Government Medical Officers Association on Sunday evening to call off the agitation will help the district fight the epidemic better. With the agitation withdrawn, the district health machinery is all set to swing into action to take preventive action against fever spread.