TIRUCHY: At a time when swine flu cases are keeping health officials on their toes, a village in Manapparai block has added to their woes. Five medical teams visited the village on Monday to carry out a medical examination, trying to unearth the cause for the ‘mysterious fever’ cases.
Medical officials say that a couple of weeks back, about 100 people were affected by fever in Sampatti village, around 15 km away from Manapparai town. However, it was kept in check after measures were put in place. But now, people from the same village are running high temperature and have been admitted to various private hospitals, bringing the village back to square one.
Deputy Director of Health Services (DDHS), Dr I Raveendar, told Express, “We have deputed five medical teams, each headed by a medical officer, to conduct medical examinations.” He added that the teams would visit all houses for source reduction.
“People do not need to panic, but if they have symptoms like fever, joint pain, running nose and giddiness, they have to undergo a medical check-up,” the DDHS said, advising that surroundings of households should be neat and clean.
As such, people from Sampatti are apprehensive and are in doubt if they have contracted viral fever, dengue or swine flu. “The health officials should find the cause behind the fever so that our fears will be put to rest,” said a villager.
Meanwhile, Karur district Collector S Jayandhi suspended Punjapatti block sanitary officer Thirunavukarasu and initiated disciplinary action against nurse Chandra for negligence after 11 people succumbed to ‘mystery fever’.