Vijayawada: There are more than 250 mosquito breeding centres in and around capital city, which have been conveniently neglected by Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) authorities. While one of the primary problems in management of dengue is arresting the spread of mosquito menace, the second one is misinterpretation and resultant confusion because of the term haemorrhagic fever.
Ironically, Vijayawada and Guntur Government General Hospitals do not have mechanism to carry out the dengue tests, according to Dr A.N. Radhakrishna, co-chairman, PCC Doctors Cell.
Isolation of most strains of dengue virus from clinical specimens can be accomplished in a majority of cases provided the sample is taken in the first few days of illness and processed without delay. Specimens that may be suitable for virus isolation include acute phase serum, plasma or washed buffy coat from the patient, autopsy tissues from fatal cases, especially liver, spleen, lymph nodes and thymus, and mosquitoes collected in nature, Dr Radhakrishna said.
He expressed doubts as to whether the four to five labs identified by the government in the capital region would meet the requirements of thousands of patients suffering from viral, malaria and dengue fevers.
While attributing the failure of addressing the issue of viral diseases to the government, Dr Radhakrishna demanded to extend the facility of Arogyasree to the patients undergoing treatment for all fevers across the state.
