Kerala Viral Epidemic

shashank.aggarwal · Jun 11th, 2007, 18:33

Kerala viral epidemic: Defence teams plunge into action

Quote:

Defence medical teams assisting Kerala authorities in tackling the viral epidemic in the state, have plunged into action in the worst affected districts even as fresh deaths from viral fever were being reported from different parts of the state.

Though the government had confirmed 38 deaths due to the epidemic, the local media put the death toll at more than 70.

The defence teams were engaged in helping state medical personnel in launching vector-control and sanitation measures.

More camps would be started in the worst-affected districts of Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Idukki on Monday, sources said.

Read the full article on Rediff

Nick-H · Jun 11th, 2007, 19:13

Viral fever.

That's a big vague, isn't it? They go onto mention Chikungunya and dengue, talk about cleanliness but are not too clear that this is about mosquitoes (is it?)

All a bit vague...

Sama · Jun 11th, 2007, 20:10

"The official said the fever was quite normal in the monsoon season and added more stress should be given to controlling chikungunya and dengue."

this seems to be the operative sentence in the entire story.....

Nick-H · Jun 11th, 2007, 22:01

There is some very weird stuff about health in the Indian media.

I was reading recently that an outbreak of Chicken Pox was because of the heat.

Ummm.... viruses have been discovered...

Sama · Jun 11th, 2007, 22:03

or because of CHICKENS!

Nick-H · Jun 11th, 2007, 22:15

Crossing the road?

(This could get silly)

But...

I read today that they are screening people entering Tamil Nadu from Kerala. At first I thought they were screening mosquitoes, then I noticed the photo of a doc holding a stethoscope to a child's chest....

shashank.aggarwal · Jun 11th, 2007, 22:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

Crossing the road?

(This could get silly)

But...

I read today that they are screening people entering Tamil Nadu from Kerala. At first I thought they were screening mosquitoes, then I noticed the photo of a doc holding a stethoscope to a child's chest....

now that is something I believe impossible..like how can you do that..there is railways, buses, airways, and add to that horded of people who cross the states in their cars, bikes and other means..

Nick-H · Jun 11th, 2007, 22:59

My thought, too.

But... this is something that gets in the papers.

Going quietly around eradicating mossie-breeding places and treating the water where they can't eradicate it doesn't get nearly the same publicity.

In the parlour · Jun 11th, 2007, 23:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

There is some very weird stuff about health in the Indian media.

I was reading recently that an outbreak of Chicken Pox was because of the heat.

Ummm.... viruses have been discovered...

I wonder if this more to do with mode of transmission than that the authorities think heat directly caused it. In the US, and I guess other temperate climates, chicken pox spikes in winter and spring because of increased crowding. Chicken pox is spread by human-human contact--coughing and contact with infected scabs, etc. Maybe crowding is more common in India during the summer and monsoons, when people seek shleter from the heat and rain in doors. Just a thought.

Nick-H · Jun 11th, 2007, 23:53

Maybe it is to do with sweat, increased mopping of brow, etc etc. I think there's a general sense that people here at their most vulnerable in the hottest months --- and maybe we are!

machadinha · Jun 12th, 2007, 04:00

I guess some viruses and bacteria just do pretty well under hot and damp conditions too (?)

Nick-H · Jun 12th, 2007, 06:00

Bacteria, yes, definately.

Not so sure about viruses...

Perhaps a scientist will be along?

bosquef · Jun 12th, 2007, 12:51

hmm... I'm in Kerala, and I had a fever a couple days ago. It appears to have been caused by a virus, called the "common cold." It appears that Kerala lacks the laboratory facilities to tell whether these viral fevers are caused by mosquito born diseases (dengue, chikungunya) or people born diseases (flu, cold).

indiadreamer · Jun 12th, 2007, 13:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by In the parlour

In the US, and I guess other temperate climates, chicken pox spikes in winter and spring because of increased crowding.... Maybe crowding is more common in India during the summer and monsoons, when people seek shleter from the heat and rain in doors. Just a thought.

In the Parlour- sounds right- increased risk for transmission of chicken pox: close contact, especially with children...everyone hanging out together waiting for the rain to end.

As far as chikungunya and dengue viruses- they are mosquito borne and either one could be the culprit in the "viral epidemic". Monsoon...standing water....mossie breeding ground...fever.

My understanding is that there is a significant difference between the above diseases and the sypmtoms for the common cold. Although they are all miserable...just different in degrees and length of misery.

Oona · Jun 12th, 2007, 14:41

Hi. I am going to Kotakkal in mid july to the hospital there. these posts have got me concerned since il be going there for a relative who will be under treatment. I dont want her to have to battle another problem along with her exsisting condition. does anyone have any REAL information about this fever and Virus?

Jun 11th, 2007, 19:13	#2
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,892	Viral fever. That's a big vague, isn't it? They go onto mention Chikungunya and dengue, talk about cleanliness but are not too clear that this is about mosquitoes (is it?) All a bit vague... __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Jun 11th, 2007, 20:10	#3
Sama a pain in the asana Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: the India inside my heart Posts: 5,354	"The official said the fever was quite normal in the monsoon season and added more stress should be given to controlling chikungunya and dengue." this seems to be the operative sentence in the entire story..... __________________ *My India, 2005-2008* BE THE REVOLUTION

Jun 12th, 2007, 04:00	#11
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 10,581	I guess some viruses and bacteria just do pretty well under hot and damp conditions too (?) __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

Jun 12th, 2007, 14:41	#15
Oona trapped traveller Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 4	Hi. I am going to Kotakkal in mid july to the hospital there. these posts have got me concerned since il be going there for a relative who will be under treatment. I dont want her to have to battle another problem along with her exsisting condition. does anyone have any REAL information about this fever and Virus? __________________ [FONT="Palatino Linotype"][COLOR="Teal"]:confused: [/COLOR][/FONT]

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Jun 11th, 2007, 22:01	#4
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,892	There is some very weird stuff about health in the Indian media. I was reading recently that an outbreak of Chicken Pox was because of the heat. Ummm.... viruses have been discovered...

Jun 11th, 2007, 22:03	#5
Sama a pain in the asana Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: the India inside my heart Posts: 5,354	or because of CHICKENS!

Jun 11th, 2007, 22:15	#6
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,892	Crossing the road? (This could get silly) But... I read today that they are screening people entering Tamil Nadu from Kerala. At first I thought they were screening mosquitoes, then I noticed the photo of a doc holding a stethoscope to a child's chest....

Jun 11th, 2007, 22:59	#8
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,892	My thought, too. But... this is something that gets in the papers. Going quietly around eradicating mossie-breeding places and treating the water where they can't eradicate it doesn't get nearly the same publicity.

Jun 11th, 2007, 23:53	#10
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,892	Maybe it is to do with sweat, increased mopping of brow, etc etc. I think there's a general sense that people here at their most vulnerable in the hottest months --- and maybe we are!

Jun 12th, 2007, 06:00	#12
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,892	Bacteria, yes, definately. Not so sure about viruses... Perhaps a scientist will be along?

Jun 12th, 2007, 12:51	#13
bosquef Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Indiana (USA) Posts: 48	hmm... I'm in Kerala, and I had a fever a couple days ago. It appears to have been caused by a virus, called the "common cold." It appears that Kerala lacks the laboratory facilities to tell whether these viral fevers are caused by mosquito born diseases (dengue, chikungunya) or people born diseases (flu, cold).

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