To date five villages are affected. 150-thousand villagers are affected and ten have lost their lives.
The monsoon season and the lack of hygiene and poor waste management may have contributed to the spread of this viral fever.
[Abdul Samad, Malappuram District Hospital]:
"The fever is increasing fast after June and July’s monsoon. Compared to last month, it has increased one hundred times. It is not a usual viral fever, the people affected are showing symptoms of heavy pain and swellings with rashes.”
The Kerala health department is providing free medicines and medical camps in the affected regions. Over a million people have suffered from viral fever in the last six months.