Spread of seasonal diseases keeps health officials on tenterhooks

220 dengue cases have been confirmed in KGH till date

The 17 cases of dengue reported from Paderu and Araku mandals in the Agency areas of Visakhapatnam district in the last few days has put the administration on tenterhooks.

In total, 220 dengue cases have been confirmed during the tests conducted at Virology Lab in the King George Hospital (KGH) in the recent past.

One patient reportedly died of dengue in the Agency areas recently. The number of dengue cases confirmed by the Virology Lab is more than the double of the 19 reported in April. In may 43 cases were reported and most of these were from various areas in the city.

The outbreak of seasonal diseases this monsoon has become a cause for concern in the rural and urban belts. Malaria, dengue, viral fevers and bacterial-diseases like anthrax and water-borne diseases have become common.

Viral-diseases are spread by mosquitoes, which act as vector to transmit the pathogens from one host to another. Stagnation of water contributes to the breeding of mosquitoes and bacteria, thanks to the poor hygiene. Contamination of drinking water sources is another major cause for the spread of water-borne diseases.

Awareness programme

Collector Pravin Kumar has directed the health officials to conduct awareness programmes in the Agency areas to educate people on these aspects. He called on two dengue patients who were undergoing treatment at the KGH on Thursday.

DM&HO R. Ramesh and his team of medical officers visited the Agency areas and reviewed the situation on Wednesday. Dr. Ramesh said fifteen of the seventeen dengue patients were treated before the patients were discharged, while two others are undergoing treatment at the KGH.

The mosquitoes, which aids in the spread of dengue, breed in stagnant fresh water.

The water which gets collected in the trays of coolers, refrigerators, discarded tyres, coconut shells are the safe 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 the breeding of mosquitoes.

B. Madhu Gopal