The incidence of vector-borne diseases in the district, as claimed by the district medical and health department, came down this year, but the fear of such diseases is continuing to haunt people. Courtesy private hospitals that have been reportedly creating ‘dengue scare’ among the patients suffering from other seasonal viral fevers.
The death of a few patients who were allegedly treated for dengue at various private hospitals have still been a mystery to the government, as no reports confirming dengue n the deceased patients has been submitted to the Health Department so far.
With no other option, the Health Department recently formed a four-member committee to investigate the alleged dengue cases hopefully to allay the fears of the public. So far this year, 42 dengue cases have been confirmed, while over 151 cases were confirmed last year.
Several patients approaching private hospitals are allegedly fleeced in the name of low platelet count and showing other symptoms of dengue fever, even though it was reportedly just a case of viral fever. Officials found that even RMPs and hospitals that don’t have any licenses are providing inpatient treatment for those affected with fever.
“In all the cases of deaths due to fevers, the patients were having other complications which are major causes of deaths,” said District Medical and Health Officer I. Ramesh claiming that there were no dengue deaths so far.
“The government hospitals are equipped to diagnose and treat dengue diseases. Before getting treatment for dengue at private hospitals, people should visit a government hospital and get the result confirmed,” he said.
People should remember that dengue is confirmed only when results of IgM, IgG and NS1 Antigen tests are positive along with a rapid decrease in platelet count, he said.
Viral fever rampant
Meanwhile, viral fevers are in spate in parts of the district. Most affected areas are the slums in Vijayawada, Avanigadda, Mylavaram and G. Konduru.
On a single day (Wednesday), the Government General Hospital in Vijayawada saw 48 patients admitted with severe fever condition.
The Mukyamantri Arogya Kendrams (MAKs or CM Health Centres) in Vijayawada, Gudivada and Machilipatnam areas saw a total of 4,500 fever cases as on September 25.
From April to August this year, over 13,500 cases of viral fevers have been registered at the MAKs in urban areas.
Sanitation blamed
“Viral fevers are common in the season. Poor sanitation caused due to stagnant rainwater, blocked drainages or lack of drainage system are causing viral fevers,” Dr. Ramesh said. He said the district administration is taking all care to eradicate breeding of mosquitoes.
Out of 27 malaria cases registered this year, 24 were reported in Vijayawada. Also, of the 42 dengue cases reported in the district, 11 have been reported in Vijayawada and nine of them were reported in the month of August alone.
Medical and Health officials of the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation say they have been taking all measures like the placement of oil balls, fogging, indoor spraying in select areas and others to eradicate mosquito menace.
Meanwhile, people living in the slums and canal bund areas are the most affected with fevers every year due to poor sanitation.
In addition to the poor sanitation, the pits dug up in the majority of the areas of the city for stormwater drain project have become an additional source of mosquito menace.
“Canals in the city are also a major source of mosquitoes. We have placed over 7,850 oil balls at 320 locations, including canals, to prevent mosquito breeding this season. Also, indoor residual spraying was done in about 20,000 houses,” said an official of VMC.
