TS in grip of dengue

Khammam leads with 83 cases while Adilabad records 3

Hyderabad: Dengue is tightening its grip on Telangana State with 300 percent rise in cases compared to last year. Nearly 276 dengue cases have been reported till August 17 when compared to 89 cases during the same period last year.Khammam district tops in dengue with 83 dengue cases followed by Nizamabad with 70.

Hyderabad recorded 51 Warangal 18, Mahbubnagar and Medak 16, Ranga Reddy 10 and Karimnagar 9. Surprisingly, the agency area district Adilabad reported only 3 cases since January this year, according to the data. Pointing out the reason for the surge in dengue cases, Dr Prabhavathi, Additional Director of Health Department, attributed to the poor rainfall leading to puddles of stagnant water which provide good breeding place for dengue mosquitoes.

“Besides government’s efforts, it’s time residents take up initiative on their own to clean up brooding places of mosquitoes. This will go a long way in controlling mosquito-related diseases,” she said. In all, 17 cells equipped to deal dengue cases function in district hospitals and teaching hospitals across the State. When compared to 1,400 cases screened till 2014 August, this year the dengue centres have screened 2,500 cases so far.

With the piling of garbage due to 40-day strike by the municipal and sanitation workers across the state is one of the reasons for rise in dengue and malaria cases, said a doctor. Meanwhile, Amberpet legislator G Kishan Reddy, who visited the Fever Hospital on Monday, interacted with dengue patients and Superintendent Dr K Shankar. “Out of 60 tests 21 cases reported positive this month and in July alone 39 positive cases were reported, said Dr Shankar.

By:V Naveen Kumar