Seasonal diseases on the rise in Srikakulam

Srikakulam: Medical and health department officials and staff failed in prevention of seasonal fevers in rural and urban areas across the district. Even Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu alerted the officials in several video-conferences prior to rainy season, but officials did not take it seriously and failed to start medical camps till the fevers are spreading widely in several mandals across the district.

Viral fevers are spreading rapidly in Naruva, Mugdumpuram, Maruvada, Punnanapalem, Chillapeta, Kodamulagam, Pishini and other villages in Ranastalam mandal. In each village, over 50 patients are suffering from severe body pains with fever, cold and cough. Due to non-availability of medical treatment at right time, fevers are turning into dengue and typhoid.

In Nandigama mandal Kaputemburu and other villages, many people are suffering from malaria symptoms. Immediately, the district malaria wing officials alerted and launched a medical camp in the village.

Patients from Ranastalam mandal are being treated at government RIMS hospital Srikakulam, private hospital GEMS at Ragolu for the past 10 days. In Srikakulam rural mandal also Ragolu, Ragolupeta, Bavajipeta villages, viral and dengue fevers are spreading.

No doctors and medical staff advised us before rainy season on prevention of diseases, said G Pydiraju, A Thotamma, V Satyamma and G Ramana, patients of Chillapeta village in Ranastalam mandal. 

“Medical staff did not spray any mosquito prevention liquids so far in our locality”, said a village revenue officer (VRO) P Appala Swamy of Ragolupeta village in Srikakulam rural who is working in Etcherla mandal.

In Etcherla mandal, viral fevers are spreading in Kongaram and Tamminaidupeta villages. In G Sigadam mandal seasonal diseases are spreading in TD Valasa, Bathuva and other villages. In Santhakavity mandal, people are suffering from viral fevers at Talada, GS Puram and other villages for the past one week.

“Regular medical staff are covering all fevers and seasonal diseases affected villages in all mandals,” said district medical health officer (DM&HO) Dr Sanapala Tirupati Rao to The Hans India.