AP health officials blame ornamental plants for dengue spread in Vizag

VISHAKHAPATNAM: According to the latest statistics of the AP medical and health department, all the 26 districts reported an average of seven per cent increase in dengue cases while Visakhapatnam alone reported nearly 20 per cent of the cases so far this season.

Around 970 dengue cases have been reported in Vizag, a GVMC health officer said, adding that this formed 20 per cent of the cases reported in the state.

This is mainly attributed to the “wrong steps” being taken by the people. These include water stagnation near concrete structures, the keeping of ornamental plants such as money plants in water in homes, improper maintenance of refrigerator drip pans and storing of water in tanks and cans at construction sites.

The Union Health Ministry conducted a study of the streets and roads in various states and UTs between August and November last year. It found dengue vector density was high due to the presence of a high number of breeding sites, because of water stagnation amid prolonged and intermittent rains.

Apart from this, Jana Sena corporator Peethala Murthy Yadav said the lethargic attitude of the civic officials is also a reason for the increase in dengue cases in the city.

Despite the steady increase in caseload, the GVMC or the district administration has not set up any warning sign or emergency camps so far.

Fever and other disorders are the symptoms in dengue cases, followed by severe abdominal pain. At least one or two cases are brought to each hospital with such symptoms every day.

Dr Rambabu, director of VIMS, said, “We are providing free treatment to dengue patients. People can come to hospitals if they develop any such symptom.” The VIMS has allocated special beds for treatment of dengue cases.

So far, about 80,000 tests were conducted in 26 districts and about 5,300 cases were diagnosed as dengue till the second week of November.