Leptospirosis cases up in Kerala capital

Kerala Chief Minister A.K. Antony's talk of grandiose plans to raise the hygiene levels of the capital city could run aground when faced with the rising number of cases of leptospirosis and tardy garbage clearance.

Piles of garbage are becoming a blot on the image of the city and the problem is being compounded by the incidence of leptospirosis or Weil's disease.

There has been no official confirmation of the exact number of cases of leptospirosis, but the District Medical Officer K. Shylaja has warned of an outbreak if something is not done with the rotting piles of garbage in the city.

Kerala tourism operators are understandably concerned as a garbage-ridden landscape is the last thing that their industry wants, especially at a time when the industry is clawing back from the setbacks caused by the September 11 incidents.

In the Thiruvananthapuram City Corporation, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) members have been exchanging angry words, but little is done regarding the prompt removal of garbage.

District Congress Committee general secretary Eby George has urged the government to dissolve the LDF-led city corporation in the light of the mismanagement of the garbage crisis.

He has argued that it is the duty of the civic body and not the government to ensure that the garbage collection mechanism functions smoothly.

George has also challenged the LDF leadership to reveal the undeclared assurances in the pact between the city corporation and the private company operating the garbage processing plant at Vilappilsala in the outskirts of the city.

Meanwhile, the local media have reported that a total of 187 cases of leptospirosis have been reported this year.

Giving due consideration to the problem, the district administration is launching an intensive campaign to spread awareness about leptospirosis and the preventive measures to be adopted.