Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (MM/RD)

Mangalore, Nov 13: All the necessary steps have been taken by the district health department for the success of ‘National Filaria Day’, which will be observed on Thursday November 15, said Dr H Jagannath, Dakshina Kannada district health and family welfare officer.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday November 13, he said that D E C tablets (fortified salt for the elimination of lymphatic filariasis) will be distributed in the filaria affected areas like Mangalore City Corporation, Mangalore Rural, Bantwal and Puttur taluks, under observance of National Filaria Day on Thursday November 15. The trained health assistants will distribute these tablets to every family, by the health department, he added.

All persons except children below the age of two years, those who are on their family way and those who are suffering from serious health complications can consume D E C tablets. But the persons who are already having microfilaria will show symptoms like vomiting, headache and light fever. These persons will be treated immediately by the health department, he informed.

Last year, a total of 1,351466 people were administered D E C tablets. This year, health department has the target of   1,474792 persons to administer the D E C tablets by visiting 2, 94,595 houses, Dr Jagannath said.