THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With H1N1 (swine flu) virus taking its toll in other states, Kerala has made all preparations to tackle its outbreak with drugs made available in all hospitals, according to Health Minister V S Sivakumar.
Swine flu has been contained in the state and no outbreak has been reported from any parts, he said this while addressing a meeting convened here on Thursday to evaluate the preparations for containing the spread of epidemics. ‘’All the hospitals have good stock of medicines to fight swine flu,’’ the Minister said.
Sivakumar also said that the intensity of monkey fever that had affected about 70 people in Pulpally area of Wayanad has come down. He also instructed the officials to maintain a good stock of medicines at all health centres to prevent epidemics. Medical camps and awareness campaigns will be conducted at slums. A meeting of Corporation-Municipality secretaries will be called soon to ensure their participation in conducting awareness campaigns and medical camp in slums, the Health Minister said.
Sivakumar also asked presidents of local bodies to convene meetings to evaluate the preparations to check monsoon-related epidemics. The Minister also said that ‘Sandesha Yatras’’ will be held from March 7 to 15 in all districts to create awareness on epidemics. A meeting of ministers, mayors, district panchayat presidents, municipal representatives, block/panchayat representatives and officials will be held in the capital on March 6 for discussing preparations to prevent monsoon-related epidemics.