The Hindu : Viral fever toll mounts to 112 in A.P.

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Viral fever toll mounts to 112 in A.P.

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD JULY 15. Four more children succumbed to viral fever taking the toll to 112 on Tuesday even as the Andhra Pradesh Government stepped up efforts to contain the spread of the viral encephalitis epidemic through a statewide sanitation drive.

At the Karimnagar Government Headquarters Hospital, three children died of various ailments. They were identified as G. Srinu (5) of Venugolapuram village, Md. Sameena (4) of Theegalagattupalli and Pushpalatha of Desaipet village. One more boy's death was reported from Iravendi village of Burgumpadu mandal of Khammam district.

The public outcry against the perceived negligence of the authorities in the wake of the outbreak of viral diseases was evident in the stoning of the car of the Municipal Commissioner of Hyderabad, Chitra Ramachandran, by irate residents in the old city.

Meanwhile, a five-member expert committee set up by the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, last week to study the situation arising out of the outbreak of the epidemic, could not find any evidence that could throw fresh light on the virus.

In its interim report submitted on Tuesday, the committee however recommended that a full-fledged virus diagnostic laboratory be set up in the State and that surveillance in all epidemic-prone areas strengthened.

Our Karimnagar Staff Reporter writes:

Admissions in the headquarters hospital increased considerably and about 193 children are being treated as inpatients in the hospital followed by 136 in Sircilla, 41 in Jagtial, 38 in Godavarikhani, 32 in Peddapalli, 11 in Metpalli and eight in Manthani. The APCC president, M. Satyanarayana Rao, visited the hospital.

Our Kurnool Staff Reporter writes:

The district administration swung into action to tackle the cases of diarrhoea at isolated villages across the district. The Collector, Ajay Jain, told reporters that diarrhoea cases were reported in Kondapuram, Velpanur, Nalakadoddi, Kosigi and Narayanpura. A 12-year-old girl, Rashida Bi, died due to delayed medical aid.

Our Ongole Staff Reporter writes:

The district administration was put on full alert and all Government staff were asked to be at their respective work centres.

Our Nalgonda Staff Reporter writes:

In the last two days, 10 deaths have been reported in the district. Five of them, including three children, have died of brain fever.

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