Dengue fever seen spreading fast

Hyderabad: For Nikhil N Sai, 12, and his parents, Janmashtami this year would be a damp squib. For the last few days, their lives are confined to Abhaya Hospital in Nallakunta.The reason: Dengue Fever. He is not alone; the 'Big D' has struck the young and the old alike.

According to the Hyderabad District Medical and Health Office, 265 dengue cases were reported since January till August 22. The number could be multiple times higher, if one were to take into account unreported cases and cases in private hospitals.

Citizens say that fogging which was a common feature in the past is no longer undertaken by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). G Ramesh, the assistant entomologist, GHMC-Kapra Circle, says, "We have a peculiar problem.

In Sainikpuri, there are huge houses with lush gardens with mini ponds and flower pots that are perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes and the owners do not allow our staff to enter. Three of our staff were bitten by dogs while on duty."

Beyniaz Edulji, a resident of Sainikpuri, says, "Vayupuri comes under Malkajgiri, while Sainikpuri is under Kapra. After repeated complaints, fogging was done for two days only. Two seniors, one Dr Ramachandran and another retired officer died due to dengue fever from our area."

Pvt hospitals to share data from now on

The DMHO called for a meeting with private hospitals on August 19 this year and made it mandatory for hospitals to share the number of dengue cases. Five hospitals, namely, JJ Hospital, Rainbow Hospital, Fernandez Hospital, Yashoda Hospital agreed to abide by the norms. KIMS Hospital representatives failed to turn up for the meeting but assured to share the data, said a senior official from DMHO.

Speaking to The Hans India, DMHO Dr Venkat said, "We have informed the hospitals that dengue is a notifiable disease and it was mandatory to share the number of cases." The hospitals also should send a second sample to the Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM). This is a measure taken to check on private hospitals.

DMHOs of Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy and Medchal districts enquired about the status of the various kinds of diseases (fever) i.e., Dengue, Malaria, Chikungunya, etc., in their districts and instructed the staff to conduct the remaining 200 health camps by August 27. Special desks have been set up at Gandhi Hospital -6 Nos and Osmania General Hospital. They will conduct another 695 health camps by September 15.