Disease surveillance stepped up after Kerala Health department confirms cholera death in Thiruvananthapuram

Corporation has intensified fogging and cleaning operations in the ward. (image for representation)
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The Thiruvananthapuram Corporation’s health wing has initiated disease surveillance and sanitisation operations on a war footing after the Kerala Health department’s Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP) confirmed the death of a 63-year-old man, Ajai Chandran, a resident of Kowdiar, from cholera on Sunday (April 27, 2025).

S. Santhikumari, Kowdiar ward councillor, told The Hindu that ASHA workers visited houses in Ajai’s immediate neighbourhood. They queried residents about signs of fever, diarrheal disease and other symptoms. 

She said Corporation workers collected water samples from neighbourhood wells and dispatched it for testing. The results were awaited.

Ms. Sathikumari said the Corporation has intensified fogging and cleaning operations in the ward. The ASHA workers also collected Ajai’s travel history details. 

Ajai was hospitalised with fever and diarrhoea at a private hospital last weekend. The hospital authorities later reported the case of cholera to the State health authorities. 

Bindu Mohan, District Medical Officer, was not immediately available for comment.

Caution advised

However, another Public Health department official, who did not want to be named, said there were no signs of an outbreak.

He advised caution and said the department would issue an advisory soon, requiring patients with diarrhoea, vomiting or fever to keep themselves hydrated with oral rehydration salts. 

A 2024 World Health Organisation (WHO) report noted that cholera deaths have shown an uptick in recent years and attributed the cause to climate change and poor sanitation.