Apr 19, 2008

Health Hazards Due to Bad Environment Management

Dengue

General
Dengue (DF) and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) has struck the national capital with approximately 70 cases reported during the month. This is likely to increase due to lack of adequate precautions to prevent its spread. Persons living in a dengue-endemic area can have more than one dengue infection during their lifetime. Dengue infection can cause viral fever as well as fatality due to hemorrhage. Important risk factors for DHF include the strain of the infecting virus, as well as the age, and especially the prior dengue infection history of the patient. (Extracted from http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/dengue/)

Symptoms. The principal symptoms of dengue are high fever, severe headache, backache, joint pains, nausea and vomiting, eye pain, and rash. Generally, younger children have a milder illness than older children and adults. Dengue hemorrhagic fever is characterized by a fever that lasts from 2 to 7 days, with general signs and symptoms that could occur with many other illnesses (e.g., nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and headache). This stage is followed by hemorrhagic manifestations, tendency to bruise easily or other types of skin hemorrhages, bleeding nose or gums, and possibly internal bleeding. The smallest blood vessels (capillaries) become excessively permeable (“leaky”), allowing the fluid component to escape from the blood vessels. This may lead to failure of the circulatory system and shock, followed by death, if circulatory failure is not corrected.

Treatment
There is no specific medication for treatment of a dengue infection. Persons who think they have dengue should use analgesics (pain relievers) with acetaminophen and avoid those containing aspirin. They should also rest, drink plenty of fluids, and consult a physician. For Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) alsothere is no specific medication. It can however be effectively treated by fluid replacement therapy if an early clinical diagnosis is made. Hospitalization is frequently required in order to adequately manage DHF.

Preventive measures
There is no vaccine for preventing dengue. The best preventive measure for residents living in areas infested with Aedes aegypti is to eliminate the places where the mosquito lays her eggs, primarily artificial containers that hold water. Items that collect rainwater or are used to store water (for example, plastic containers, 55-gallon drums, buckets, or used automobile tires) should be covered or properly discarded. Pet and animal watering containers and vases with fresh flowers should be emptied and scoured at least once a week. This will eliminate the mosquito eggs and larvae and reduce the number of mosquitoes present in these areas. (Extracted from www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/tsunamis).

Japanese Encephalitis

Transmission. Japanese encephalitis is transmitted through rice field breeding mosquitoes that are infected with the Japanese encephalitis virus. People get Japanese Encephalitis is transmitted to people through the bite mosquitoes infected with the Japanese Encephalitis virus. Mosquitoes become infected by feeding on domestic pigs and wild birds infected with the Japanese encephalitis virus. Infected mosquitoes then transmit the Japanese encephalitis virus to humans and animals during the feeding process. The Japanese encephalitis virus is amplified in the blood systems of domestic pigs and wild birds. It is not a disease which can be transmitted from person to person and is transmitted only domestic pigs and birds.

Symptoms of Japanese encephalitis.Mild infections occur without apparent symptoms other than fever with headache. More severe infection is marked by quick onset, headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, occasional convulsions (especially in infants) and spastic (but rarely flaccid) paralysis. It has an incubation period of 5 to 15 days and has a fatality range of .3 % to 60 %.

Risk Exposure for Japanese Encephalitis.Residents of rural areas in endemic locations, active duty military deployed to endemic areas, and expatriates who visit rural areas. Japanese encephalitis does not usually occur in urban areas.

(Extracted from - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/jencephalitis/qa.htm)

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Water Stress – Need for Discussion With the Chinese

Water stress is likely to be a cause of concern between India and China over the next few decades. India being a lower riparian state vis a vis China would be subject to manipulation of the water flow by the Chinese in the major rivers which are passing through China such as the Brahmaputra and Sutluj. Reports in the Hindustan Times indicate that the Chinese have build a barrage near Zada in West Tibet on the Sutluj. This is likely to facilitate the Chinese in control of the River and will affect the quantum of water available to India. ( Hindustan Times. 30 June 06. New Delhi . p 1). The dangers of flash floods as that which resulted from the Parichu lake out break in 2004 cannot be ruled out. The Spiti and Sutluj are the most vulnerable valleys in the area which need continuous monitoring. While a Memorandum of Understanding on sharing of hydrological information of the Sutluj or the Langqen Tsangbo (Chinese name for Sutluj) has been concluded in 2005, it may not be adequate to ensure proper water sharing arrangements including control of flooding. ( Hindustan Times. 30 June 06. New Delhi . p 1). Chinese have undertaken development of the Tibetan plateau and over the years a number of settlements are coming up in the area. This will necessitate development of infra structure with power being the key resource. Tapping hydel power is the easiest and most cost effective option. In the long term interest of both the countries, there is a need for a Treaty on water sharing between India and China on the lines of the Indus Water Treaty to avoid future conflict situations due to water stress as well as disasters due to barrage breach.

Biosphere Reserves – India

There are fourteen bio-sphere reserves in India covering more than 55000 square km. area. spread from Kashmir to Kanyakumari to Andaman & Nicobar islands and from Kutch to Meghalaya and Andaman & Nicobar islands. Out of these, four biosphere reserves are recognized by UNESCO on world network of Biosphere Reserves. Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat is also being added in this list of Biosphere Reserve.

The biosphere reserves, which are under world network of Biosphere Reserves, are Sundarbans, Gulf of Mannar , Nilgiri and Nanda Devi . Sundarbans in West Bengal covers 9630 km2 area is part of delta of Ganga and Brahamputra river system. Gulf of Mannar in Tamilnadu with highest geographical area of 10,500 km2 covers part of Gulf of Mannar between India and Sri Lanka . Nilgiri biosphere has area spread over three states i.e. Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka covering 5520 km2 area.

Nanda Devi Biosphere reserve has 2236 km2 area. It is comprised of part of Chamoli, Pithoragarh and Almora districts in Uttar Pradesh.

In the North-east region there are five biosphere reserves namely Nokrek, which is part of Garo hills, in the State of Meghalaya, Dehang Debang, which is part of Siang and Debang Valley in the State of Arunachal Pradesh and Manas which is part of Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Kanchanjunga, which is part of North and West Sikkim.Kamprup and Darang districts and Dibru-Saikhowa, which is part of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts, both in Assam.

In Madhya Pradesh, there are two Biosphere Reserves namely Pachmarhi and Achanakmar-Amarkantak. Pachmarhi is formed by part of Betur, Hoshangabad and Chindwar distrcts whereas Achanakmar-Amarkantak has parts of Bilaspur district of Chattisgarh State besides Anupur and Dindori districts of Madhya Pradesh.

Agasthyamalai, biosphere has less than 2000 sq. km. area in the State of Tamilnadu as well as Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Pathanmthitta in the State of Kerala .

Similipal Biosphere Reserve is part of Mayurbhanj District in Orissa. It coveres 4374 sq. km. area.

Southern most islands of Andaman and Nicobar has a bioreserve called Great Nicobar.

Biosphere Reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems, which are internationally recognized within the framework of UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme. The world’s major eco-system types and landscapes are represented in this network. It is devoted to conserving biological diversity, promoting research and monitoring as well as seeking to provide models of sustainable development in the service of human kind.

The Ministry of Environment and Forest provides financial assistance to the respective State governments for conservation of landscape and biological diversity and cultural heritage. Ministry also provides support for research, monitoring, education and information exchange

(Press Release – Ministry of Environment and Forests, GOI)