A concerted approach by the Health department, local bodies, Food Safety and the Water Resources departments and people’s cooperation are imperative to prevent various fevers and other infectious diseases being reported in the State, Minister for Health K. Muraleedharan has said.

He was speaking after inaugurating a meeting of a high-power committee constituted to address the growing threat of communicable diseases in the State here on Saturday.

He expressed hope that the committee would be able to study issues such as measures that could be implemented in advance to prevent communicable diseases and why Nipah was being reported in certain areas and submit a report.

Unclean surroundings, impure water, and unhygienic food caused many diseases. In the wake of shigellosis being reported in a school in Nenmeni grama panchayat in Wayanad, directions had been given to monitor the quality of drinking water and ensure food safety. Food safety checks would be intensified in hotels and wayside eateries and strict action taken against those functioning in an unhygienic manner.

The Minister said instructions had been given to strengthen dry day observance and conduct cleaning activities in houses and establishments on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Mayor V.V. Rajesh; MLAs C.K. Hareendran and O.S. Ambika; District Collector Anu Kumari; high-power committee chairperson S.S. Lal and convener Sreejith N. Kumar, and top officials of the Health department were among those present.

Health experts, people’s representatives, officials, and representatives of various organisations share their opinions and submitted recommendations to the committee.

Meanwhile, the Directorate of Health Services has directed district medical officers (DMOs) and officials in charge of districts to strengthen measures to contain communicable diseases.

Rapid response cells would be set up at the directorate, district medical offices, and main hospitals for infectious disease prevention. DMOs should ensure that doctors and staff in taluk, district, and general hospitals are present in outpatient (OP) clinics on time. If need be, OP timings as well those of labs and pharmacies should be extended.

Patients and those accompanying them to hospitals and employees should wear masks. Fever wards and fever clinics should be started in all health establishments.

It should be ensured that hospital have adequate stocks of quality medicines.

Health department employees would not be allowed leave in June and July except for emergencies. Long leaves will be sanctioned only if medical certificates are produced, Director of Health Services V. Meenakshy said.