Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

62 confirmed cases of dengue

By Our Special Correspondent

Hyderabad Oct. 27. There is an outbreak of dengue in the State with as many as 62 confirmed cases being reported from different places and two casualties. Hyderabad is topping the list with 42 cases.

The Health Minister, K. Sivaprasada Rao, told reporters here today that the period starting from November is the season for communicable diseases and dengue among them took no time to come back. It was due to Aedes mosquito for which moisture on the ground, water coolers, stagnant water, unwashed overhead tanks, flowerpots, etc were the ideal breeding grounds. These conditions existed much in urban areas where the mosquitoes would simply multiply.

As an immediate salvage step, the Government has alerted the district Collectors and heads of municipalities, asking them to undertake fogging operations and spraying of malathion, etc he said, appealing to the public to bring the afflicted persons to the referral hospitals in rural areas and to the Fever Hospital in Hyderabad. Incidence could be detected based on certain symptoms such as high fever, loose motions, vomiting, body pains, bleeding and multi-organ failure.

Dr Rao said the incidence was more in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and Warangal among the districts. For educating the public on the problem, they had issued pamphlets specifying the dos and don'ts.

Kits were made available at referral hospitals for carrying out tests free of cost in doubtful cases. The test would cost Rs 2,000 outside.

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