Kerala Health Minister Orders High Alert as Heavy Rains Raise Disease Risk
As Kerala continues to experience heavy rainfall across several districts, State Health Minister K. Muraleedharan has directed health officials to remain on high alert to effectively respond to potential health-related emergencies. The advisory comes amid concerns that flooding and waterlogging could lead to outbreaks of waterborne and vector-borne diseases.
The Director of Health Services (DHS) and the Director of Medical Education have been instructed to ensure that all necessary arrangements are in place to deal with any eventuality. The Director of Medical Education has been asked to coordinate with all medical college principals and hospital superintendents, issue necessary directions, and monitor preparedness levels across institutions.
The DHS convened an online meeting with district medical officers, NHM district programme managers, and other health officials to ensure that adequate medical arrangements are made at relief camps in all affected districts. District officials have been directed to move medical equipment and essential medicines from healthcare institutions located in low-lying and flood-prone areas to safer locations. Health personnel and ambulances have been asked to remain on standby.
Employees currently on long leave may be recalled to duty, except in cases of unavoidable emergencies, and hospitals have been directed to ensure the availability of adequate beds. Sufficient stocks of tetanus vaccine, Oseltamivir tablets, Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS), and Doxycycline must be maintained.
In a specific directive, patients presenting with severe cold, cough, or breathing difficulty should be administered Oseltamivir. All pregnant women with influenza-like symptoms should be put on Oseltamivir without fail. People staying in relief camps must be asked to take Doxycycline prophylaxis as per protocol as a matter of abundant caution, as flood waters could expose individuals to contaminated water and leptospira.
Hospitals equipped to administer anti-rabies vaccination and snakebite treatment have been told to ensure these services remain available at all times. Adequate stocks of all related medicines and vaccines must be maintained. Special attention should be given to preventing outbreaks of water-borne and vector-borne diseases.
Patients in relief camps who are on treatment for chronic lifestyle diseases should continue taking their regular medications without interruption, and health workers have been tasked with ensuring this. Rapid response cells should be constituted at both the district and institutional levels. Individuals in relief camps with fever or respiratory symptoms should be provided masks and isolation facilities if required.
All drinking water sources in relief camps should be super-chlorinated using bleaching powder, chlorine tablets, or liquid chlorine. Pregnant women and children staying in relief camps should receive all scheduled immunisations without interruption. All vaccines stored in hospitals, along with the equipment used for maintaining the cold chain, must be secured. Vaccines should be shifted to safer locations if necessary.
Power banks and inverters in healthcare institutions should be fully charged and kept ready for use. The public has been advised to consume only boiled and cooled drinking water and to keep food properly covered. Changing weather conditions can put people at increased risk of communicable diseases, and hence people should remain vigilant. Unnecessary travel should be avoided.
The Health department has also directed officials to ensure close coordination with the Local Self-Government bodies and the Revenue department in implementing all preparedness measures.
