No anti-dengue steps by GHMC

 

Meanwhile, around 40 per cent of the complaints received are of mosquito menace. D. Shanthi of Kukatpally said, “Mosquitoes are making our life miserable. We can’t sleep properly at night. Elders and children are all facing the problem for the past two months. Anti-mosquito operations should be conducted immediately, minimum twice a week, in our area (Kukatpally, Bhagyanagara Phase - III).”

 

Mohd Nayeemuddin from Tolichowki said, “There are a lot of mosquitoes at Tolichowki Surya Nagar colony area because of which children and elders are suffering. We need anti-mosquito spray.” “The mosquito menace in Begumpet has reached a new level since it started raining. Stagnation of water has made it severe. We request authorities to take care of the water stagnation and also fumigate weekly,” added Divya Vavilala from Begumpet.

 

C. Srinivasulu, assistant professor of Zoology at OU said, “The Aedes mosquito, that causes dengue, are active during the day and bite during the morning hours. Usually we only take precautions in the evenings.  The mosquito population can be controlled through anti larva operations and fogging to some extent, however fogging can be a threat to human health because of the carcinogenic elements present in it. Long-term exposure can cause cancer, especially among young and old. The corporation and the society have to invest in long term mosquito control and follow the WHO guidelines.”

 

The GHMC meanwhile claims that they have intensified the two operations, “Spraying has been completed in all domestic and pre-domestic areas, and in over 2,165 schools awareness on mosquitoes breeding is being done. We are also pasting stickers and posters. Spraying in localities that have seen positive cases are being done. Each circle has an assistant entomologist and supervisor,” said a source.

 

 

 

Water collected for drinking purposes in cans or in drums must also be completely drained out and dried. Doctors meanwhile have said that hospitalisation is not required for everyone. Senior doctor Gaurav Thukral said, “More than 90 per cent of dengue cases do not need hospitalization. Dengue can also be treated at home hence people must not panic.”

 

At the same time it is important to know one’s blood group, and if it is rare then one should collect sufficient knowledge of donors in case of emergency. Pediatrician Dr Farhan Sheikh, explained, “It is very important to have this knowledge as in case of low platelet count, there is a lot of pressure on the hospital and also on the doctors to procure the blood. With the cases rising, there is tremendous pressure building up and panic is adding to the problem. If the relatives are well-equipped with the knowledge, then the task becomes easier.”

 

With dengue on the rise, experts have advised to keep a tab on the symptoms like viral fever ranging for more than four to five days coupled with severe headache and body pain. At the same time Dr S.R. Krishna, general physician, explained, “All fevers in this season are not dengue, hence people must not panic. It is very important to understand that viral fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever are different. In case of hemorrhagic fever, there is very high fever, red spots on the cornea of the eye or any other part of the body. Bloody urine or stool and severe abdominal pain coupled with persistent vomiting and sometimes even blood in the vomit is seen.” If these symptoms are seen then the patient must be rushed to the doctor for treatment before it becomes fatal.