Dengue, rat fever, swine flu spread widely across Kerala; over 25 deaths

Dengue, rat fever and other viral-origin fever are spreading widely across the southern Indian state of Kerala.

As much as 25 people have been killed and hundreds of people hospitalized by these deadly viral fevers in various parts of the state for the last few weeks following the onsent of monsoon, reports said.

Six patients whose swab analysis confirmed H1N1 swine flu infection have been admitted to intensive care units of different hospitals in the state.

Cough samples of 65 suspected H1N1 swine flu patients have been sent for testing. 15 people have been quarantined at different hospitals and 47 in homes.

Several cases of H1N1 swine flu have also been detected across the state. About 13,000 patients complaining of fever and other symptoms sought treatment from various healthclinics so far.

Thousands of people are are turning up at the government hospitals every day complaining symptoms of various kinds of fever. A total of 9719 cases of various types of fever were reported as of Wednesday

All the District Medical Officers in the state have been directed to take urgent remedial action by the state directorate of Health Service.

A Rapid Response Team has been constituted in all districts to take preventive and other remedial actions to check the spread of fever.

Dengue:Dengue fever is a disease caused by a family of viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes.

It is an acute illness of sudden onset that usually starts with headache, fever, exhaustion, severe joint and muscle pain, swollen glands (lymphadenopathy), and rash.

The presence of fever, rash, and headache (and other pains) is particularly characteristic of dengue.

The dengue fever virus is contracted from the bite of a striped Aedes aegypti mosquito that has previously bitten an infected person.

The mosquito flourishes during rainy seasons but can breed in water-filled flower pots, plastic bags, and cans year-round. One mosquito bite can inflict the disease.

The virus is not contagious and cannot be spread directly from person to person. There must be a person-to-mosquito-to-another-person pathway.

Rat fever: Rat-bite fever, is an infectious diseases where a bite from a rate transmits a bacterial or fungal infection.

Rat-bite fever includes fever, chills, rash in the eyes, muscle pain, headache, swelling  at wound site, skin ulcers, vomiting etc.

Rat-bite fever occurs some time after the initial injury has already healed, up to about 28 days after the bite or scratch. Although the wound had appeared completely healed, it suddenly grows red and swollen again

H1N1 swine flu:The symptoms of 2009 H1N1 flu virus in people include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.

Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea. People may be infected with the flu, including 2009 H1N1 and have respiratory symptoms without a fever.

Severe illnesses and deaths have occurred as a result of illness associated with this virus.