Dengue cases on the rise in Kerala’s Ernakulam district

The health department of Kerala’s Ernakulam district has advised citizens to practise self-hygiene and take precautions to protect themselves against dengue fever in the wake of a massive spurt in dengue cases in the district.

The district has so far reported 1,089 suspected and 382 confirmed cases of dengue as well as six suspected and one confirmed deaths. A chunk of the cases – 514 suspected and 131 confirmed – were reported in May. At least 142 suspected cases and 62 confirmed cases have been reported in June.

According to the health department, most of the cases were reported from Thammanam, Koothappady, Kaloor, Edappally, Ponnurunni, Vennala, and Chalikkavattom areas of Kochi municipality corporation.

District Medical Officer V Jayasree has advised residents to identify and clean mosquito breeding spots at their homes and offices while asking those with symptoms like body ache, fever and headache to immediately consult a doctor.