In Kerala, despite a notable increase in fever cases, the government has refrained from disclosing the latest statistics. Over the past three days, the health department has withheld updates on the epidemic. The most recent data available on infections dates back to June 30. Previously, the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) website routinely provided daily updates on disease incidence.
However, there have been no updates on the website for the past three days, despite no reported technical issues. Officials have not offered any explanation for the lack of updates. In June, cases of H1N1, dengue, and rat fever showed an upward trend. The website currently only displays figures up to the end of June, with no information yet available for July.
The absence of updated figures has sparked considerable public concern in the state, including within the assembly, as the epidemic continues to spread. In June, cases of H1N1 quadrupled and dengue cases doubled compared to May. The health department has signaled a potential significant increase in disease cases for July.
Health Minister Veena George assured the assembly on Tuesday that the fever situation in the state remains well managed. She criticized the Congress-led opposition UDF for raising baseless concerns.
George highlighted that the number of fever cases in the first half of the year was 12.02 lakh, a decrease from 13.1 lakh during the same period in 2015 under the Congress-led UDF government. Additionally, she noted that the dengue fatality rate had dropped to 0.25% in 2024, down from 0.34% in 2015.