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Cholera in Kerala

Published June 1, 2009 | By sholto

The arrival of the monsoon in May 2009 has brought with it some unwelcome visitors that the government is loathe to admit or even discuss – viral fever and cholera.

The scale of the epidemic is hard to quantify and assess and likely to be seriously understated. 10 cases have been acknowledged in the Kuttanad area around the backwaters of Alappuzha but with the monsoon flooding out the water supply, the scope of the epidemic is likely to take off.

That cholera exists in Kerala at all is shocking and reflects the woeful state of the water supply in the backwaters area and the continued poor investment in both infrastructure and education for the poor families who live on the backewaters. The people of the Kuttanad are familiar with monsoon illnesses which strike them every monsoon and are typically characterised as “viral illnesses”. Two years ago all India was gripped in fear of Dengue which especially affected the North and also Kerala. Kerala was especially impacted by chickunguniya which effected the tourism trade especially and was again handled with haphazard tactics by local officials.

Government response, typically, is denial in the hope that the problem will go away before anybody notices it. This year’s Cholera outbreak in Kerala is the most serious so far. First, it is the fact that Cholera which has been wiped out in most of the world by good infrastructure management can still break out in Kerala. It says everything about the state of water supplies and undermines government propaganda on the success of policies.  Cholera is very much a 3rd world disease and this implies something about the backwaters which Kerala is loathe to admit.

What happens now will be interesting. Will the outbreak peter out and will it spread. What will/should the state authorities say.

Update 1:

about 1000 cases of viral illness have been reported, 260 cases of chickunguniya and a death from rat disease [sic]. Keralites will be relieved by Kerala Health Minister P.K. Sreemathy’s comments that the epidemics being reported from some parts of the State are now under ‘complete control.’  11 cases of Cholera have been reported from one panchayat in Alappuzha district alone.

Opposition Leader Oommen Chandy descries the response of the state government and criticises them for not instating the Kuttanad scheme which was dropped, according to him, for narrow political reasons.

Poll:

[polldaddy poll=1668234]

Have your say in the comments section:

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  • usha

    It is paradoxical to note that though Kerala, ranks top in literacy and health care, not much thrust has been given to the development of even the basic infrastructure facilities like safe drinking water. It is high time that the government and other local bodies come out with some innovative plans to tackle this menace and to ensure a permanent solution.

  • usha

    It is paradoxical to note that though Kerala, ranks top in literacy and health care, not much thrust has been given to the development of even the basic infrastructure facilities like safe drinking water. It is high time that the government and other local bodies come out with some innovative plans to tackle this menace and to ensure a permanent solution.

  • usha

    It is paradoxical to note that though Kerala, ranks top in literacy and health care, not much thrust has been given to the development of even the basic infrastructure facilities like safe drinking water. It is high time that the government and other local bodies come out with some innovative plans to tackle this menace and to ensure a permanent solution.

  • usha

    It is paradoxical to note that though Kerala, ranks top in literacy and health care, not much thrust has been given to the development of even the basic infrastructure facilities like safe drinking water. It is high time that the government and other local bodies come out with some innovative plans to tackle this menace and to ensure a permanent solution.

  • Neetu

    It is pathetic that Cholera still exists in Kerala. I was under the impression that Kerala is pretty much a safe place to live. I was completely enamoured by the place during my few visits to Kerala. I hope that the government steps up effective measures to eradicate this epidemic. Meanwhile, the government and NGO’s should work together to educate the poor on the importance of drinking safe water and keeping the surroundings clean.

  • Neetu

    It is pathetic that Cholera still exists in Kerala. I was under the impression that Kerala is pretty much a safe place to live. I was completely enamoured by the place during my few visits to Kerala. I hope that the government steps up effective measures to eradicate this epidemic. Meanwhile, the government and NGO’s should work together to educate the poor on the importance of drinking safe water and keeping the surroundings clean.

  • Neetu

    It is pathetic that Cholera still exists in Kerala. I was under the impression that Kerala is pretty much a safe place to live. I was completely enamoured by the place during my few visits to Kerala. I hope that the government steps up effective measures to eradicate this epidemic. Meanwhile, the government and NGO’s should work together to educate the poor on the importance of drinking safe water and keeping the surroundings clean.

  • Neetu

    It is pathetic that Cholera still exists in Kerala. I was under the impression that Kerala is pretty much a safe place to live. I was completely enamoured by the place during my few visits to Kerala. I hope that the government steps up effective measures to eradicate this epidemic. Meanwhile, the government and NGO’s should work together to educate the poor on the importance of drinking safe water and keeping the surroundings clean.

  • Tessa

    It looks like the fabled must-see tourism destination is the favourite not only amongst tourists but also remains the hot spot for malign viruses. It is a pity that Kerala tagged as “God’s own country” and the state with the highest literacy rate still has areas that mirrors poor sanitation.

    Let’s just hope the Government does not adopt the same lethargic measures in tackling the cholera outbreak this time as it has been doing for the past few years. We will infact have to wait and see if the government’s promises of free distribution of tablets, taking precautionary measures, hosting awareness camps and developing a good infrastructure will be fruitful this time or if it will just flow away with the waters of the monsoon- like their many other so-called promises.

  • Tessa

    It looks like the fabled must-see tourism destination is the favourite not only amongst tourists but also remains the hot spot for malign viruses. It is a pity that Kerala tagged as “God’s own country” and the state with the highest literacy rate still has areas that mirrors poor sanitation.

    Let’s just hope the Government does not adopt the same lethargic measures in tackling the cholera outbreak this time as it has been doing for the past few years. We will infact have to wait and see if the government’s promises of free distribution of tablets, taking precautionary measures, hosting awareness camps and developing a good infrastructure will be fruitful this time or if it will just flow away with the waters of the monsoon- like their many other so-called promises.

  • Tessa

    It looks like the fabled must-see tourism destination is the favourite not only amongst tourists but also remains the hot spot for malign viruses. It is a pity that Kerala tagged as “God’s own country” and the state with the highest literacy rate still has areas that mirrors poor sanitation.

    Let’s just hope the Government does not adopt the same lethargic measures in tackling the cholera outbreak this time as it has been doing for the past few years. We will infact have to wait and see if the government’s promises of free distribution of tablets, taking precautionary measures, hosting awareness camps and developing a good infrastructure will be fruitful this time or if it will just flow away with the waters of the monsoon- like their many other so-called promises.

  • Tessa

    It looks like the fabled must-see tourism destination is the favourite not only amongst tourists but also remains the hot spot for malign viruses. It is a pity that Kerala tagged as “God’s own country” and the state with the highest literacy rate still has areas that mirrors poor sanitation.

    Let’s just hope the Government does not adopt the same lethargic measures in tackling the cholera outbreak this time as it has been doing for the past few years. We will infact have to wait and see if the government’s promises of free distribution of tablets, taking precautionary measures, hosting awareness camps and developing a good infrastructure will be fruitful this time or if it will just flow away with the waters of the monsoon- like their many other so-called promises.

  • http://www.helpmego.to sholtoramsay

    According to reports in the Hindu Newspaper – as of 26th May some 15000 out-patients had been treated for a variety of fever ailments in the Alappuzha district.

  • http://www.helpmego.to sholtoramsay

    According to reports in the Hindu Newspaper – as of 26th May some 15000 out-patients had been treated for a variety of fever ailments in the Alappuzha district.

  • http://www.helpmego.to sholtoramsay

    According to reports in the Hindu Newspaper – as of 26th May some 15000 out-patients had been treated for a variety of fever ailments in the Alappuzha district.

  • http://www.helpmego.to sholtoramsay

    According to reports in the Hindu Newspaper – as of 26th May some 15000 out-patients had been treated for a variety of fever ailments in the Alappuzha district.

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