Amid heavy rain in Kerala, Minister K. Muraleedharan urges preparedness for health emergencies

Published 1 August 2026 · health

Health Minister K. Muraleedharan has directed Health officials to remain on high alert to effectively respond to possible health-related emergencies arising from the ongoing heavy

Health Minister K. Muraleedharan has directed Health officials to remain on high alert to effectively respond to possible health-related emergencies arising from the ongoing heavy rain across districts. The Director of Health Services (DHS) and the Director of Medical Education have been directed to ensure that all necessary arrangements are in place to deal with any eventuality. The Director of Medical Education has been asked to coordinate with all medical college Principals and hospital superintendents and to issue necessary directions and monitor preparedness. The DHS convened an online meeting with district medical officers and NHM district programme managers and other health officials to ensure that adequate medical arrangements are made at relief camps across the districts. All district officials have been directed to move medical equipment and essential medicines in healthcare institutions located in low-lying, flood-prone areas to safer locations.

Health personnel and ambulances must remain on standby. Employees currently on long leave may be recalled to duty, except in cases of unavoidable emergencies. Hospitals should ensure the availability of adequate beds. Sufficient stocks of tetanus vaccine, Oseltamivir tablets, Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS), and Doxycycline should be maintained. Patients presenting with severe cold, cough, or breathing difficulty should be administered Oseltamivir. All pregnant women presenting with influenza-like symptoms should be put on Oseltamivir without fail. People staying in relief camps must be asked to take Doxycycline prophylaxis as per protocol as a matter of abundant caution as flood waters could have exposed people to contaminated water and leptospira. Hospitals equipped to administer anti-rabies vaccination and snakebite treatment should ensure that these services remain available at all times.

Adequate stocks of all related medicines and vaccines must be maintained. Special attention should be given to preventing outbreaks of water-borne and vector-borne diseases. Patients in relief camps who are on treatment for chronic lifestyle diseases should continue taking their regular medications without interruption and this should be ensured by health workers. Rapid response cells should be constituted at both the district and institutional levels. Individuals in relief camps with fever or respiratory symptoms should be provided masks and isolation facilities if required. All drinking water sources in relief camps should be super-chlorinated using bleaching powder, chlorine tablets, or liquid chlorine. Pregnant women and children staying in relief camps should receive all scheduled immunisations without interruption. All vaccines stored in hospitals, along with the equipment used for maintaining the cold chain, must be secured in hospitals.