To prevent epidemic like situation in the flood-hit Kerala, the Union Health Ministry on Monday dispatched essential emergency drugs, chlorine tablets and others to the Southern State.
JP Nadda, Union Health Minister who has been holding a high-level meeting daily to review the relief measures in Kerala, said that the outbreak situation is being monitored on a daily basis and the strategic health operation centre has been activated. He further said that no outbreak of communicable disease has been reported yet.
To meet with the situation, 65 metric tonnes of essential emergency drugs for flood situation have been airlifted by IAF and have reached Trivandrum. 1 crore chlorine tablets have been sent and another 1 crore is in transit. The total request for 4 crchlorine tablets will be sent in phases.
In addition, 12 public health teams have already been constituted, one each for all 12 worst affected districts and ready for deployment on request of the State. The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has issued several health advisories to support the State in meeting with post-flood public health management when the threat of water borne, vector borne and viral hepatitis diseases shall become potent. NCDC teams are ready for deployment to support the State.
As the flood situation in Kodagu in Karnataka is also worsening, one medical team from Bangalore to Kodagu district has also been dispatched there to provide necessary support, said an official.