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Fever deaths trigger heated blame game between opposition, health ministry

  • As per official figures, 47 persons died in Kerala due to dengue, H1N1 and other fevers this month alone
  • Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala stated the state health department has been a complete failure
  • With the toll rising, Chennithala also asked the Chief Minister to announce health emergency in the state
  • Health minister KK Shylaja accused the opposition of trying to scare the people
Fever deaths blame game opposition chennithala health ministry Shylaja

Kerala health minister KK Shylaja has hit back against opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala for blaming the health department for the increasing death toll from epidemics in the state. 

Chennithala, while speaking to the media after meeting Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday morning, stated that the health department has been a complete failure in containing the fever outbreak, adding the department should take complete responsibility for the rising death toll.

Also read:​ Degue, H1N1 grips Kerala

As per official figures, 47 persons died in Kerala due to dengue, H1N1 and other fevers this month alone. With the toll rising, Chennithala also asked the CM to announce health emergency in the state.

However, Shylaja said that announcing health emergency in the state will only cause anxiety. She also accused the opposition of trying to scare the people.

Also read: Swine flu claims pregnant woman in Vadakara

"There has been no lapses from the government in tackling the epidemics. The government had entrusted more than 3,000 health officials to tackle the fever outbreak. Instead of blaming the government, the opposition should work with the LDF to fight fever," the health minister stressed.

10 people, including a 3-year-old and a pregnant woman, died of fever in Kerala on Friday, making the death toll from epidemics this year rise to over 114. The number of those affected was highest in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode.

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