Spike in fever cases worries authorities in Kodagu district

MADIKERI: Kodagu district has reported 28 Covid-19 cases on Sunday even as cases of flu are on the rise worrying the authorities. The health department advises people to take precautionary measures by taking the 'swab' test. The virus, which has not appeared in the district for the last one year, has infected 28 people in the last 40 days.
The Union health ministry has already warned states about the spread of Covid cases and has advised them to take other precautionary measures including wearing masks.
Even in Karnataka, the health department has taken necessary measures in this regard. Kodagu is at 28th position in the list of Covid cases. All the infected are in stable health and have not suffered any serious problems. They have been kept in isolation in their homes. Covid was detected when those who had cold, fever and cough were tested.
Necessary medicines are being given to the patients. District health officer Dr KM Satish Kumar said that for the past week, measures have been taken to conduct swab tests for those with Covid-19 symptoms. A daily testing target of 550 has been fixed but 580 examinations are being conducted in the district. Those with symptoms are being compulsorily subjected to swab tests.
In the coming days, all health centres will facilitate Covid testing. As a precautionary measure, 100 beds have been arranged in the Madikeri District Hospital. Dr. Satish said oxygen and a ventilator beds are available. He appealed to wear a mask, besides using sanitizer.
Meanwhile Dr Gopinath Suresh, district RCH officer, confirmed that only 36% of the Kodagu population have taken the third booster dose of the Covid vaccine and that all vaccine supplies have been stopped. The spread of flu is also alarming in the district, he added.
Dr Lakshmi Narayan, a private practitioner said, "Many people who arrive from Bengaluru come to be treated for flu in Kodagu. The local people are not much affected and it is curable and there is no harm to life. If we get any doubts regarding Covid symptoms, we send them to the district hospital for a swab test."