The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and officials
from National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reviewed the Kerala’s preparedness
and actions taken to deal with West Nile Fever (WNF). The review comes in the
backdrop of the recent death of a boy who was undergoing treatment for West
Nile fever in Malappuram district, Kerala.
The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)
is an institute under the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare.
The functions of NCDC are: a) undertaking
investigations of disease outbreaks across India, b) investigating and recommending
control measures for the outbreak of various communicable diseases in the
States/UTs in India. It also investigates and recommends measures to some
neighbouring countries in the South East Asia Region. c) Providing referral
diagnostic services to individuals, community, medical colleges, research
institutions and state health directorates.
Kerala has been advised to follow the National
Vector Borne Disease Control Programme guidelines of personal protective
measures to prevent mosquito bite. It has also been recommended to carry out
vector surveillance and control measures.
The National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme
(NVBDCP) is an umbrella programme for prevention and control of Vector borne
diseases. It was launched in 2003. It covers 6 vector borne diseases viz. a)
Malaria, b) Dengue, c) Chikungunya, d) Japanese Encephalitis, d) kala azar and
The West Nile fever is a zoonotic disease which
is caused by the West Nile Virus. Birds are the natural hosts of West Nile
virus (WNV). The virus transmits to humans through bites from infected Culex
mosquitoes. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds.