East Godavari shivers with viral fevers

- Dengue, malaria, chickungunya widespread
- Patients swarm private and government hospitals as authorities wake up from slumber
- Opposition parties take ruling party to task for failing to act on time
- Deputy Chief Minister N Chinnarajappa to visit affected villages

Kakinada: Viral fevers like dengue, malaria, chickungunya and Pedal Edema are rampant across the district with patients swarming both private and government hospitals. Already about 200 dengue cases and over 4,000 cases of malaria have been registered so far, although officials are not willing to come out with actual figures.

Judging by the number of people affected by the ailments, the administration’s drive against the mosquito-menace seems to have come a bit late. “The majority of patients are showing a serious decline in platelet count. While those who can afford private hospitals are getting admitted there, commoners are approaching the government hospital,” said Nageswara Rao, Superintendent of Kakinada Government Hospital.

The administration in the Agency areas seems to have woken up only after four people had died of Pedal Edema (swollen legs). The Medical and Health department had deputed a team of doctors to the Agency areas which is treating the affected persons and collecting their samples. “Serious cases are being transferred to the Kakinada Government Hospital,” said Dr K Chandraiah, DHMO.

The department staff during the last one week took up flogging operations for a day in the Kakinada municipal area limits, to check the menace of mosquitoes which mainly cause chickungunya. They plan to distribute mosquito nets in the Agency area.

Meanwhile, the opposition parties have become active, taking the administration and the ruling party to task for failing to act on time even though the fevers had been prevailing for the last one month. Following the outcry by the opposition, Minister Ravela Kishore Babu visited the government hospital in Kakinada and the Agency areas. District In-charge Minister Devineni Uma Maheswara Rao also visited the patients at the government hospital and directed the doctors to provide them with the best possible treatment. Speaking to The Hans India, he said that Deputy Chief Minister N Chinnarajappa would soon visit the affected villages in the Agency area.

The incessant rains coupled with the mosquito menace have resulted in a huge increase in the number of patients. There is a danger of the diseases spreading to more areas if the administration fails to take effective steps to control them.