Cold & Fever Outbreak Adds To COVID-19 Panic In Odisha’s Paradip

Paradip: The recent rains have triggered an outbreak of fever and cold, adding to the COVID-19 panic among residents of this port town.

Confusing these with COVID-19 symptoms, a large number of people are rushing to the Port Hospital, government-run Atharbanki community health centre (CHC) and private clinics for treatment.

Medical officer of Atharbanki CHC, Basant Rout said around 100 to 120 patients visit the OPD daily and half of them are found to be suffering from fever due to weather change, according to a report in New Indian Express.

“People don’t need to panic as these are local infections and can be treated. We are testing swabs of suspected coronavirus cases and are fully prepared to deal with any situation. The CHC is stocked with adequate medicines,” Rout added.

Sources said wild vegetation and accumulated rainwater have become breeding grounds for mosquitoes and the elderly, pregnant women and children are at particular risk of catching vector-borne diseases.

To prevent and control spread of fever and Covid-19, the port hospital has set up a screening and triage room. Fever cases and those with flu-like symptoms are being screened here. Those with Covid-19 symptoms are being diverted to the nearby flu clinic.

Frontline staffers have been engaged in screening of patients. Besides, a state-of-art thermal camera has been installed to measure body temperature of patients. All the health workers are being screened before entering and leaving the hospital.

Chairman of Paradip Port Trust (PPT), Rinkesh Ray said, “We have put in place adequate arrangements to stop the spread of the virus. A COVID-19 antigen testing facility has been set up for quick diagnosis of people. Besides, isolation facilities have also been made for port employees.”