The state of Kerala was already leading in the COVID-19 cases, and now its prime city has been seeing a surge in cases of hepatitis, which has led the authorities to issue an advisory.
Written by Abeer Athar |Published : June 9, 2025 11:53 AM IST
Kerala News: After the fresh rise in COVID-19 cases, Kerala is now grappling with another serious health threat a rapidly spreading hepatitis outbreak. The district of Thrissur has emerged as the epicentre, with a sudden surge in hepatitis cases triggering panic among residents and prompting health officials to issue an urgent advisory. The dual burden of COVID and hepatitis has placed immense pressure on the healthcare system, raising concerns of a looming public health emergency.
District Medical Officer, DMO T.P. Sreedevi, has emphasised the need for careful vigilance. “Only boiled and properly treated water should be used for drinking. Avoid stale food at all costs,” she mentioned while advising the public.
Hepatitis Outbreak Explodes In Kerala As State Battles COVID-19 Returns
Hepatitis A and E are known to affect the liver. The condition is food and waterborne as it is caused by contaminated food and water. The District Medical Officer has mentioned the need to take action and asked the hotels and eateries to be very attentive and ensure certain precautions like boiling the drinking water before serving it to the people and being cautious about not mixing the cold water with hot water.
With the onset of monsoon, the people are advised to be very cautious in reading the symptoms and making sure not to let any delay in getting it treated. The people are advised to look for symptoms of diarrhoea.
What Are The Symptoms of Hepatitis?
The symptoms of hepatitis usually take around 15 to 60 days to fully develop after the person is exposed to the virus. Noting the symptoms, they include fever accompanied by body pain, lethargy, headache, nausea, and even developing yellow eyes and skin, and noticing a change in colour in urine.
Hepatitis: How to deal with the threat and what precautions to take
There have been several measures that the officials have urged the people to follow. The people are advised to wash their hands, trim their nails regularly, and dispose of excreted body waste at proper places. Avoid eating or drinking outside as it may result in getting an infection. Even if the people find themselves in a situation where they have no other options, it is advised to ask the restaurant staff to serve boiled water. As the monsoon is approaching, the rate of infection may rise unprecedentedly, so one must remain even more cautious in such an extreme time.
Other Tips To Stay Safe
The people are advised to educate themselves about the condition and the symptoms so that when any symptom emerges, they can prevent it at the earliest level and help tackle the situation. It must be noted that the health department has already released disease-prevention measures.
During the times of festivals and travel, people should pay extra attention to hygiene related to food and beverages. Anyone who develops the symptoms of diarrhoea is asked not to go for self-medication and immediately consult health workers, as advised by the DMO.
The condition might look vulnerable and large, but with the right amount of carefulness and precautions, people can certainly help to bring down the condition and prevent any uptick in cases.
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