Concern over outbreak of epidemics

Contamination, stagnation of water leading to spread of diseases

The outbreak of epidemics during rainy season is cause for concern both in rural and urban areas. Malaria, dengue, viral fevers and bacterial-diseases like anthrax and water-borne diseases are common during the monsoon.

It is common knowledge that viral-diseases are spread by mosquitoes, which act as vector to transmit the pathogens from one host to another.

Major factor

Stagnation of water contributes to the breeding of mosquitoes and bacteria develop in unhygienic conditions. Contamination of drinking water sources is another major factor contributing to the spread of water-borne diseases.

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.

After a visit to villages, affected by malaria, in the Agency areas of the district, Collector Pravin Kumar was furious at the absence of a doctor at one of the PHCs, even as the Agency was in grip of fevers, and ordered action against him.

(Reporting by B. Madhu Gopal)