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Visakhapatnam
Viral fever very much on the prowl
An old man suffering from malaria in the agency area.
Dengue, malaria, diarrhoea, gastro-enteritis, viral fever... these epidemics come back with a vengeance with the onset of monsoon every year. Walk or drive through the streets of the Old Town area and it will not take long for us to understand the reason for the outbreak of these diseases.
Most of the streets and even the main roads welcome the visitors with heaps of garbage and waste. Clogged drains, open defecation and stagnation of rain or drain water on the roads is a common sight. Perhaps, they can wait to be cleaned during the next round of `Clean and Green' or the `Janmabhoomi' programme, but till then mosquitoes cannot resist the open invitation to multiply themselves!
These conditions are conducive to the growth and proliferation of mosquitoes and flies, which aid the spread of the viral and bacterial diseases. The water pipelines in many colonies run over the drains and sometimes through them. The damaged pipelines give wide scope for water contamination. Ironically, the underground drainage scheme (UGDS), which will help in curbing the spread of diseases has not been implemented in the Old Town.
It is not Seethammadhara, MVP Colony, Lawson's Bay Colony or other posh areas, where there is little scope for water stagnation, that need UGDS but the slums in the Old Town which require it on a war-footing. Perhaps, the corporation is more worried about the revenue aspect. The people here are illiterate and seem to care little for hygiene.
The petty vendors who sell their stuff outside the Government and municipal high schools are doing brisk business. The children, obviously unaware of the hazards, buy the cut guava and jack fruits, samosas, ice-creams and other eatables that are already tasted by the flies. Bad sanitation, contaminated water and food are the main causes of diarrhoea.
The drain abutting the Municipal Corporation Stadium, which played host to one-day international cricket matches, remains clogged most of the time, and the Rangireeju Veedhi colony, adjacent to the temple of Lord Satyanarayana Swami near the Andhra Medical College hostels, presents a picture of neglect. The residents also have partly to take the blame for not keeping the surroundings clean.
"In the last two weeks, 13 fever cases have been admitted at the paediatric ward of the King George Hospital. These include seven fever cases, suspected to be viral, from the Meghadrigedda Ashram School and six cases from the agency areas of the district. Of the six cases, two have turned out to be malaria-positive and the rest are viral fevers," says the Assistant Professor, P. Venugopal.
"In the last three days, 15 severe diarrhoea cases with gastro-enteritis have been admitted. The situation is being monitored round the clock. There is no dearth of medicines or accommodation at the government hospitals and municipal dispensaries," Dr. Venugopal said and appealed to the public to utilise the services of these hospitals or registered medical practitioners but not to risk their lives by taking treatment from quacks.
School girls buying uncovered jack fruit.
High fever among children can result in fits. The fever is only a symptom of some other problem. The disease should be diagnosed promptly and drugs administered accordingly, he says.
He underlined the importance of cleanliness and hygiene to prevent the outbreak of gastro and diarrhoea. Patients requiring emergency medical attention can contact Dr. Venugopal on 98480 27202 (cell) or on 562330 (mobitel).
"The municipal corporation dispensary at the Old Town area is getting about 100 out-patients every day. Of these 25 per cent are fever cases. In the last two months, of the 216 cases three have turned out to be malaria-positive. Of the 10 fever cases reported this month, only one has turned out to be malaria-positive while the rest are viral and general fevers," says the Medical Officer, Girish Babu.
"On an average 4,000 blood smears have been collected every day from January to June this year in Visakhapatnam district. Of these 4,582 are malaria-positive against 5,868 cases during the same period last year," says the District Medical and Health Officer, D. Narayana Rao.
"All the Primary Health Centres are being kept open round the clock to give timely medical aid to patients affected by malaria, diarrhoea and other diseases. An epidemic cell has been opened at the DMHO's office. Door-to-door surveys were conducted to find out the incidence of fevers and create awareness among the rural people on the need to take timely medical aid. The chlorination of water sources and cleaning of drains was taken up as part of the rural sanitation programme," he says.
Do's and Don'ts
Do's: Visit a government hospital or a qualified medical practitioner immediately after you catch any type of fever.
In case of diarrhoea, ORS (oral rehydration solution) can be taken or tender coconut water is also completely safe. Keep your surroundings clean and maintain personal hygiene.
Don'ts: Do not rely on quacks. They can give you the wrong drugs and complicate the disease.
Avoid outside food and ice creams.
Do not indulge in self-medication.
Do not drape a fever patient with a blanket. Do not give him cold sponging but only tepid sponging.
B. MADHU GOPAL
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