Kerala : Surge in epidemic outbreaks with 144 deaths reported till June 30th this year

Kozhikode : From the official data coming out of the health department and the numbers from the various districts point out that Kerala is in the midst of epidemic outbreaks with health authorities fighting on various fronts where health volunteers working on a war-time basis as number of cases of fever rising manifold.

From amoebic meningoencephalitis in the northern districts to cholera in Thiruvananthapuram, West Nile and avian flu in Alappuzha and the increasing dengue, fever and leptospirosis cases, the state has reported 144 deaths due to the diseases in 2024, an alarming statistics since the outbreak of Covid-19.

“We are going through a difficult and challenging situation as of now. The number of fever cases, especially avian flu and dengue are rising in many parts of the state. We are receiving alert from the health department on issuing protocols and necessary warnings on a daily basis. However, the public needs to take precautions as there is a fever cases rising across the state due to multiple reasons. One reason is the change in weather. During rainly seasons the number of fever cases rise usually. But this time around there are different kinds of fever that has emerged and hence the challenges before the health officials are also high”, said Dr Praveen, a virologist at a private hospital in Ernakulam to News9.

Outbreaks reported recently in Kerala

H1N1 (Swine flu)

A respiratory infection caused by influenza virus
Majority of the cases reported in Thiruvananthapuram
West Nile fever
Spread by mosquitoes infected by West Nile virus
Reported in Palakkad, Thrissur and Alappuzha

Cholera

A bacterial disease usually spread through contaminated water
Of the 17 cases this year, six were reported in Thiruvananthapuram recently

Amoebic meningoencephalitis

Caused by Naegleria fowleri, a brain eating amoeba found in warm fresh water bodies such as lakes and rivers
Reported in Kozhikode, Thrissur, Palakkad, Wayanad, Kannur and Malappuram

As reports from the health department, Kerala reported 67 deaths due to Leptospirosis in 2024 till June 30th