Wayanad disaster: District-level monitoring team to combat contagious diseases

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Health Minister Veena George said that a district-level monitoring team has been appointed to combat contagious diseases in the wake of Wayanad landslides. Speaking at the review meeting held in the wake of the landslides, the minister said that special instruction has been given to be vigilant against contagious diseases.

"All the relief camps should operate by following the norms. Everyone should exercise caution against rabies, diarrheal diseases, dengue fever, hepatitis A and chicken pox," the minister said.

"All bodies brought to the hospitals have been subjected to post-mortem. Forensic surgeons from Kozhikode, Thrissur, Kannur, Alappuzha and Kottayam medical colleges have reached Wayanad. The post-mortems are currently being conducted in Meppadi. Facilities have been arranged to conduct the post-mortem in one more place. As several bodies were recovered from Nilambur, additional facilities have been prepared in the Nilambur Hospital to conduct the post-mortems. 140 mobile freezers have been made available. 210 dead bodies and 135 body parts have been found so far. 343 post-mortems have been conducted so far. The bodies of 146 people were returned after completing the procedures," the minister said.