Communicable diseases: An emerging challenge to the public healthcare system of Kerala

The state of Kerala has always been renowned among other Indian states in terms of its exceptional and unique achievements in which attained in the public healthcare sector in the last few decades. Since its formation, the state of Kerala has gained certain commendable achievements in its public healthcare system. When we consider health indicators such as mortality, morbidity and fertility rates the ratio of the state is relatively better than other Indian states. But unfortunately, over the past few years, the state of Kerala has narrowly lost its reputation and efficiency of its public healthcare system. Since last few years, the state had witnessed severe outbreaks, resurgence and reappearance of some erstwhile prevented disease and some unusual casualties as well. Even though the state of Kerala has claiming certain significant achievements in the field of the public health sector in the past the threat from various communicable diseases still remains as a spot of bother for the state. Many communicable diseases like tuberculosis, leprosy, vector-borne diseases like malaria, dengue fever, Chikungunya, filariasis, Japanese encephalitis, water-borne diseases like cholera, diarrhoeal diseases, viral hepatitis A & E, leptospirosis and other viral infections are severe in the state over last few decades.