Anantapur officials combat rise in dengue cases

ANANTAPUR: With a steady rise in dengue cases, the district medical and health officials have sounded alert across Anantapur Municipal Corporation limits. This follows the death of two children in Rani Nagar a few days back even as cases keep mounting. Officials were directed to
concentrate on proper measures to prevent dengue and other seasonal diseases.

At a review with officials from AMC and the district administration, urban MLA Ananta Venkatrami Reddy lamented the poor initiatives to check the spread of seasonal fevers in the corporation limits. “The AMC staff and urban health wing should concentrate on appropriate preventive measures instead of getting publicity”, he said.

“The authorities should focus on sanitation measures by coordinating with ward sachivalayam staff and volounteers”, Reddy said and added that public health and municipal authorities should be extra vigilant for the next till four months to prevent widespread of pandemics and seasonal diseases.

At least 20 slum areas with poor drainage systems exist in AMC limits and they are vulnerable to seasonal diseases.

“We are to undertake a special sanitation drive in all slum areas”, AMC commissioner Murthy said.

The legislator said that additional staff would soon be posted as the district in-charge and municipal minister Botsa Satyanarayana has responded positively for increasing the number of posts in the municipal corporation.
“I will visit every ward and slum area in the headquarters”, the MLA said.