Medicine distribution program to eliminate Elephantiasis disease on 23 Jan

Bhatkal - 21 Jan 2012: A medicine distribution program to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis, commonly known as Elephantiasis will begin from 23rd January 2012 in five coastal taluks of Uttara Kannada district including Bhatkal, Honnavar, Kumta, Ankola and Karwar. This was announced by Dist Health Officer, Dr G N Ashok Kumar and Dist Malaria Officer, Dr Subhash Tandeli at a press meet held at Dist Health Office in Karwar. As per the program, volunteers from health department will visit each and every house and distribute the tablets. He appealed all the people to co-operate with the volunteers and do not panic after consuming the medicine because there will be a temporary problems like omitting, head ache or gastric for some patients. The children below 2 years, pregnant women and persons above 60 year should not take this medicine. On 24 and 26th January, its effects on patients will be assessed and this program will continue upto 29th Janurary. He said

According to the health department, there are 394 elephantiasis patients in the district in which Kumta registered highest number of elephantiasis cases with 165, Bhatkal - 155 and Karwar only 7. According to Dr Ashok Kumar, the reason for highest number of cases in Gokarna and Bhatkal is the poor drainage system.

It may be noted that, Elephantiasis disease is caused by Culexmosquito. The majority of infections caused by this mosquito are asymptomatic, showing no external signs of infection. These asymptomatic infections still cause damage to the lymphatic system and the kidneys as well as alter the body's immune system.

Bhatkallys News Service