The health department officials on a warning note stated that cases of chickenpox and typhoid were on the rise in Ernakulam owing to the hot climate and pre-monsoon rains respectively. 

As per the official data, 52 chickenpox cases were reported till May 21 compared to 32 in April and 45 in March, while in the month of May, 11 suspected cases of typhoid were reported compared to 5 in April.

According to a state health department official, chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus and spreads through the air, with most cases occurring in the summer months of April and May. Typhoid is a bacterial infection caused by Salmonella and mostly transmitted through contaminated food and water. Due to the monsoon rains, authorities anticipate an increase in typhoid cases in the following months. They recommended individuals maintain good personal cleanliness and avoid consuming old food or water from the outside to avoid contracting the sickness.

Besides these fast-spreading infections, health officials have also reported an increase in dengue cases with 319 suspected and 102 confirmed dengue cases in May against 148 suspected and 71 cases in April.  (ET Health World, May 23, 2022)