Hepatitis outbreak: Study team visits Ernakulam

KOCHI: With more cases of Hepatitis B being  reported from certain pockets of Ernakulam district, experts from Alappuzha Medical College have started an inquiry into the issue. The team from community medicine department of the Medical College undertook the responsibility after the Health Department in  the district failed to assess the reason for the spread of the disease in a particular area. In May this year, the Health Department had identified some cases from Maneed near Piravom.“As the reasons for the disease outbreak are manifold - the use of infected syringes, blades repeatedly used at barber shops and unprotected sex - it is very difficult to identify it. Many patients are hesitant to divulge the details. That is why we sought the help of the team from Community Medicine Department of Alappuzha Medical College,” Ernakulam DMO Dr Sudhakaran said.Splitting into various groups, the 15-member team visited the households in Maneed. Around seven cases have already been reported from the area. The first reported case was an alcoholic person suffering from liver sclerosis. His serum samples were tested Hepatitis B positive and later, he died.“After the first case was reported, we had taken measures to check the spread of the disease. We tested the serum samples of the contacts of those identified with the disease. Then we gave vaccination to the contacts,” said Dr Haseena Mohammed, Additional DMO.“On Friday, we, along with the team from Alappuzha Medical College, visited 320 households in Maneed,” she said.The team is expected to submit its report within a week.The team also visited  Kuttampuzha and Varappetty from where Hepatitis A outbreak was reported.On Friday, the Health Department organised a medical camp in Varappetty in association with other streams of medicine like homeopathy and  ayurveda.