The lingering diseases that had surfaced with the onset of the monsoon rains in the state continues to throw out more and more disease-causing microbes. Though the disease surveillance unit describes it as ‘rare’, 37 cases of chickenpox were observed in the state, the incidence of which is more in Malappuram with 8 cases and Idukki at 7 cases. Community medicine experts say that this has nothing to do with the rains and that it is a carry-over from the summer.
“Often children and youngsters can act as carriers without showing any symptoms. While chickenpox incidence is at its peak during summer, some of it might carry over into the rainy season through these carriers, who can transmit the disease,” said Dr Vijayakumar, head of community medicine at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College. Meanwhile, there has been a let-up in the number of dengue fever cases in the state, but Hepatitis cases are on the rise. Hepatitis A cases are seen more in the northern districts of the state and the southern districts have shown an increase in Hepatitis B cases.
While there were six fever deaths in the state which are suspected to be that from dengue, the total number of confirmed dengue cases have come down to 73 from three digit figures a couple of days ago. Thiruvananthapuram and Idukki districts continued to top the list in the number of dengue cases with confirmed figures of 36 and 16 respectively. In the case of Hepatitis A, Kozhikode had the maximum number of cases at 16. Wayanad reported 6 and Kannur 2. While the southern districts seemed to be relatively free from the incidence of Hepatitis A, what raises concern is the nine confirmed cases from Kollam.
Of the total 35 Hepatitis A cases, there was one case each at Pathanamthitta and Idukki. Hepatitis B has also made its appearance in the state with eight confirmed cases, half of which were from Kollam. Incidentally, Kollam had no dengue cases on Thursday.
