The Thiruvananthapuram district medical office has intensified preventive measures against leptospirosis, dengue, chikungunya and Zika as rainfall strengthens across the district, urging residents and high-risk workers to avoid exposure to contaminated water and eliminate stagnant water around homes and workplaces.
In a statement, the district medical office said public vigilance, personal hygiene and clean surroundings were essential to controlling rain-related infections. People who must enter waterlogged or contaminated areas have been advised to take doxycycline as a preventive measure against leptospirosis, strictly following instructions from health workers. The tablets are available free of cost at all healthcare institutions, according to the statement.
Farmers, MGNREGS workers, sanitation workers, plumbers, painters and construction workers are among those identified as being at higher risk. The advisory also covers people working in waterlogged areas, those who frequently come into contact with animals and anyone exposed to contaminated water. Workers entering such areas have been advised to use protective gloves and footwear.
People with wounds are advised to avoid contaminated water and work involving wet soil. Anyone who has to walk through contaminated water should wash their feet thoroughly with soap and clean water as soon as possible. The district medical office has also cautioned residents against self-medication.
Symptoms associated with leptospirosis include high fever, headache, muscle pain, particularly in the calf muscles, abdominal pain, vomiting, redness of the eyes and jaundice. The health authorities have advised anyone experiencing these symptoms to seek treatment without delay at the nearest health centre.
The district medical office has separately called for weekly dry days to reduce mosquito breeding. Intermittent rain can leave water standing in containers and other small spaces, creating breeding sites for Aedes mosquitoes that transmit dengue, chikungunya and Zika.
Under the preventive schedule, educational institutions have been asked to observe dry days on Fridays, workplaces on Saturdays and households on Sundays. Residents have been urged to inspect their homes and surroundings regularly and remove stagnant water wherever it collects.
Potential breeding sites listed by the health department include trays behind refrigerators, plates beneath flowerpots, unused toilets, water storage tanks, coconut shells, discarded containers and other unused materials that can collect rainwater. The district medical office has said that removing stagnant water and maintaining cleanliness are central to reducing the risk of mosquito-borne disease outbreaks during the rainy season.
