Lack of rat fever testing kits irks GP chief

At a special meeting, he urged the health department to supply the kit immediately. As 108 ambulance can transport a patinet only 30 km distance, provision should be made to transport patients in other vehicles.

Though Balehole hospital has 24X7 service, there are no permanent doctors to treat the patients. A permanent doctor should be deployed in the hospital at the earliest.
He said there are over 40 suspected rat fever cases in the Gram Panchayat limits.
The Gram Panchayat has paid a compensation of Rs 2,000 each to five patients.

Wells to be dug

As most of the villagers directly consume water from the waterfalls, many of the villagers are suffering from the suspected rat fever.

To prevent the villagers from consuming the water from falls, atleast 20 to 25 wells should be dug and the taluk panchayat and zilla panchayat members should provide funds for it.
Balehole Primary Health Centre medical officer Madhusoodan said “of the six blood samples, three are suffering from rat fever. However, Dengue and Kyasanoor Forest Disease (KFD) are not found in the region,” he clarified.

Tahsildar Shive Gowda urged the villagers to drink boiled water and keep the surroundings clean.