The State Meteorological Centre has said that Kerala will have to wait another week for the southwest monsoon. However, in May alone, more than 1.48 lakh people sought treatment for fever in government hospitals across various districts. Rain, humidity, wind, and contaminated water all create conditions that help diseases spread. In many places, heavy summer rains began only after mid-May. Yet, shockingly, infectious fevers and other illnesses had already started spreading during the peak summer heat, even before the rains arrived.

According to figures up to last Tuesday, ten people died from different kinds of fever in May alone. Leptospirosis (rat fever) has become the deadliest among them. Eight people died from rat fever, while dengue claimed two lives. Cases of malaria and brain fever have also been reported. At the same time, health authorities have issued strong warnings because of the threat of Ebola, which is seen in African countries. Many Malayalis work abroad, including in African nations. Since Ebola can spread through contact during air travel and other situations, hospitals are now closely checking the travel history of people coming with fever symptoms.

We must not forget that India's first COVID case five years ago was reported in Thrissur, and before that, South India's first Nipah case was reported in Kozhikode. In the report titled 'Kerala on high alert: Ebola apprehensions rise amid explosion of seasonal fevers,' prepared by our reporter K.S. Aravind and published on Wednesday, 7,705 people sought treatment for fever in the state on the previous day alone. On the same day, out of 3,005 people who sought treatment for dengue symptoms, 703 were confirmed to have the disease. Among those who came to hospitals with symptoms of rat fever, 122 cases were confirmed. This month alone, amoebic meningoencephalitis was reported in 27 people, and 13 of them died. Usually, when the monsoon begins, hospitals start special fever clinics and stock essential medicines as part of standard procedure.

However, there is a need for scientific study on fevers that spread regardless of climate change, so that the root causes can be identified and preventive measures can be strengthened. Fever is no longer limited to just sneezing and coughing as it used to be in the past. Many dangerous diseases, including Ebola, first show symptoms similar to fever. If people simply wait, thinking it will go away in a week, the situation could become worse. Those who decide their own treatment or buy medicines directly from medical shops without consulting expert doctors are putting themselves at risk. Symptoms like body heat, headache, and runny nose should not be ignored as a simple cold or fever. Any fever lasting more than two days should receive proper medical attention. The government must also understand the seriousness of the situation.