Dengue fever and chikungunya have emerged as major health challenges for Kerala, along with the recent outbreak of avian flu in Alappuzha and Kottayam, Health Minister Veena George said here on Friday.
“Although avian flu has not affected humans in Kerala, globally, 800 people have been impacted. The flu could be disastrous if it transmits to humans, and the Health department is closely monitoring the situation,” she said while inaugurating the concluding session of the Trivandrum Management Association’s annual convention, TRIMA.
The Minister said the State government considered ‘One Health’ a vital collaborative effort to address public health concerns. “Since the outbreaks of Nipah and COVID-19, the concept of One Health has gained significant attention. The State government has established a One Health Institute and centres in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode. We have trained 2,50,000 volunteers to report and connect with the government and local communities across Kerala,” she said.
