Times of India
19 July 2010
Hyderabad, India

Doctors Tell Denizens To Take Precautions As Malaria, Dengue Cases Go Up
City hospitals are reporting a steep rise in viral fevers and gastroenteritis cases in the last couple of weeks. Specialists say that malaria, dengue and hepatitis cases are also being reported in considerable numbers since the onset of monsoon.

“There is a spurt in cases of viral fevers in the last two weeks. We are seeing about 30 cases a week,” said Dr B Vijay Kumar, senior physician, Yashoda Hospital. He added that the hospital is seeing equal number of malaria cases which are coming mostly from the peripheries and neighbouring districts of Hyderabad.

The scene is similar at government hospitals including Fever, Osmania and Gandhi hospitals. While doctors at Osmania and Gandhi Hospital said that weekly four to five cases of malaria are being diagnosed, Fever hospital superintendent Dr B S V Manjula too confirmed that there is a slight increase in the malaria cases being reported at Fever hospital.

Standing testimony to the state of affairs are the monthly reports of the Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM) which continue to reveal several areas receiving contaminated drinking water in the city. For instance, the latest available May 2010 report of IPM shows one–fourth of the samples as unsatisfactory. The report also found traces of the pathogenic bacteria E–coli in many samples.

“Incidents of acute diarrhoea are also being reported due to drinking contamination of water. House flies and mosquitoes spread the infection rate causing a spurt in seasonal diseases,” said Dr K Sunder Rao, physician, KGH Hospital, Malakpet. Doctors said it is advisable to be careful about what you eat and drink, particularly during monsoon, when chances of contamination of food and water rise significantly.

“Viral fever spreads fast during monsoon. Cases of high fever, viral GE, vomitings, loose motion, viral cold cough are on the rise in the last two weeks. Dengue cases are also there but not alarming,” said Dr Sharmila Asthana, pediatrician, Apollo Hospital, who has been getting about four such cases each day.

Avoiding outside food, particularly uncovered street food, untreated water as well as juices, lassis etc kept in open will go a far way in reducing the number of water–borne or vector–borne diseases during this season, doctors suggest.