The incidence of dengue is on the rise in the city, if the cases reported at the King George Hospital (KGH) last month is any indication. A total of 43 patients tested positive for dengue in May as against 19 in April this year.
Normally, one or two cases of dengue are reported at the KGH every day but for about a month two/three cases are being reported. These are being treated and discharged and there is no cause for alarm, says K. Indira Devi, Nodal Officer for Dengue and Deputy Superintendent of KGH.
The blood samples of patients suspected to have dengue fever are sent to the Virology Lab in KGH for confirmation. The number of cases which tested positive for dengue are: January, 2018 – 25 (of 162 samples tested), February – 19 (of 155 tested), March – 16 (of 151 tested), April – 19 cases (as against 123 samples tested) and in May – 43 cases tested positives as against 229 cases sent for testing.
The incidence of dengue is more in urban areas. The mosquito species, which aids in the spread of dengue, breeds in stagnant fresh water and not in dirty water. The water, which gets collected in the trays of coolers, refrigerators, discarded tyres, coconut shells are its favourite breeding grounds.
Needless to say, it is the duty of every citizen to ensure that stagnant water is regularly emptied once in every three days to prevent breeding of mosquitoes.
Mobile clinics
Collector Pravin Kumar flagged off mobile vans to create awareness among the public on malaria and dengue fevers. In all, 23 mobile clinics have been launched in the district.
The incidence of malaria has declined by 60% in the district compared to last year. The supply of mosquito nets has produced good results.
However, the incidence of dengue and malaria was seen more on the outskirts of the city in Greater Visakhapantam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) limits and in the municipal areas of Narsipatnam and Elamanchili.
The Medical and Health Department was already collecting blood samples by conducting door-to-door surveys in identified areas. The clinics would have a Health Educator, Health Supervisor and Health Assistant.
People have been asked to utilise the facilities of the mobile clinics.
