Ernakulam records Kerala’s highest influenza total as health campaign expands

Ernakulam continues to have Kerala’s highest number of reported influenza cases, with 969 confirmed infections recorded through September 26, according to health authorities. The State recorded 2,205 confirmed influenza cases during the month and 20 deaths. Ernakulam’s district medical officer, Dr R.

Shahirsha, said health officials were focusing on preventing person-to-person transmission. He said field reports had not shown a marked recent rise in fever or influenza cases, but added that a possible increase in fever cases in April next year had been linked to the El Niño phenomenon. The district has implemented the epidemic-prevention action plan Arogyabheri in all local bodies.

The year-long programme is being run jointly by the district panchayat and the Health department. Dr Shahirsha said the initiative was introduced amid increases compared with last year in diseases including H1N1, West Nile disease and chikungunya. It includes public-awareness work and health education on sanitation and other preventive practices.

The district also reported 58 confirmed and 12 suspected leptospirosis cases during the month, as well as 649 suspected and 234 confirmed dengue cases. Four deaths from leptospirosis were reported in Ernakulam. Rajeev Jayadevan, convener of the Indian Medical Association’s Kerala State Research Cell, said influenza and leptospirosis cases were expected to decline as the monsoon ended and the ground dried.

He attributed continued transmission partly to Ernakulam’s role as a travel hub and to the recent festive season, which he said may have helped spread viruses.