Malaria Outbreak in Agency Areas, Health Officials on Alert
Typhoid and jaundice cases are also being reported
Kakinada: An outbreak of Malaria cases in the agency areas of Rampachodavaram and Chinturu divisions in the Alluri Sitharama Raju and Eluru districts is causing concern to the people and keeping the officials on the alert.
Health officials are conducting rapid tests on the people in affected areas to confirm Malaria. About 8 to 10 cases are being reported on an average a day, after the recent floods. Typhoid and jaundice cases are also being reported from the agency area.
Water contamination, storage of water in pots etc are resulting in the spread of Malaria cases. The sanitation conditions remain worse in many villages. Health personnel are conducting house-to-house surveillance and a survey to identify the affected people. They are also distributing medicines to them.
The health officer of Chinturu division, Dr Pullaiah, told Deccan Chronicle that as per instructions from the government, rapid tests were being conducted. After identifying Malaria, health teams are distributing ACT (Artemisinin-based combination therapy) drugs. This is a combination of two or more drugs that work against the malaria parasite.
He said Asha workers should visit every house and secretary and health assistants should observe the condition of those who are suffering from fevers. “Community health workers are visiting the villages once a week. All efforts are being made to provide treatment to the people,” he said.
Meanwhile, reports said many migrant labourers from Chhattisgarh and Odisha were also suffering from Malaria.
In Eluru district, health officer D Asha said treatment has been rendered to 134 Malaria patients and all these have recovered from the illness. Spraying of Mylathian into the houses at Jeeugumilli, Buttayigudem and Polavaram mandals have been done. Some 2.52 lakh mosquito nets have been distributed to the tribals.
She said Friday was being observed as ‘dry day’ and ANMs are uploading data on the vector control app. Sanitation programmes are being undertaken in villages where Malaria cases are being reported,” she said.