Visakhapatnam district frozen in fever

Visakhapatnam: Seasonal diseases, such as malaria, viral fevers, dengue and diarrhoea, are continuing to afflict the people of Vizag and in other parts of the district, with a massive influx of patients in various government and private hospitals in the last few weeks.

According to the authorities, several people in TDP Colony, Ambedkar Colony, Prakash Colony, Kancharapalem, Gnanap-uram and Allipuram in the city have been suffering from fever that could be dengue or malaria. The dispensaries in the city are also full with patients who come with symptoms of viral fevers.  

About 50-60 percent of patients coming to hospitals are suffering from some form of fever or other.

District medical and health officer, J. Sarojini  said besides the local tahsildars and health officials, they were co-opting the assistance of local NGOs in raising awareness about seasonal diseases. "We are monitoring the situation on a continuous basis and it's under control. A spurt in diarrhoea cases was reported in Vizag Agency. About 20 medical officials were sent on a deputation basis," she said. The sudden change in temperature associated with mosquito breeding is said to be the major cause of the increase in cases.

An outbreak of diarrhoea was also reported from the Vizag Agency. While about three tribals   died of diarrhoea, several others are suffering from it.

Officials are suspecting ingestion of contaminated water to have caused  diarrhoea.

HRD minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao chaired a meeting with the district officials on Friday on the increasing number of seasonal diseases in the district. He informed that district collector Pravin Kumar and joint collector J. Nivas would head to the Agency area to take stock of the problem. As per official data, about 1,500 malaria and about 150 dengue cases were reported in the last one month. But officials are concerned about the increasing number of deaths being caused by diarrhoea.

Before the onset of monsoon, the Greater Visakhapatnam Muni-cipal Corporation (GVMC) recruited 60 additional field workers and five supervisors to better enforce the vector-borne disease control programme. It also identified 34 disease-prone areas through its mapping in the city and started releasing Gambusia fish, which are predatoprs of mosquito larvae, into wells in the city.

But none of these measures have helped contain the increasing incidence of seasonal diseases. Sanitation is the main concern in Agency area. There is a need to create awareness among tribals about the need to maintain clean surroundings.