Viral fevers rampant in Vijayawada surroundings

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Vijayawada: Vijayawada city is in the grip of viral fevers for the past 15 days. A large number of fever cases are being reported at several hospitals in the city daily.
 
Though the health services are exempted from the ongoing Samaikyandhra stir and the employees of the municipal corporation’s sanitation and health department are on duty, the number of fever cases is increasing every day. The official reports have also proved the seriousness of the problem.
 
According to official sources, nearly 40 patients queue up before the municipal corporation’s 22 urban health centres across the city suffering from fevers and pains. Almost 1,000 cases are being registered every day and majority of the cases are registered especially on outskirts of Payakapuram, Kandrika, Vambay Colony, Krishnalanka and Autonagar.
 
Majority of the people are suffering from fever with body pains and they fear that it is indication of Chikungunya. But the health officials contend that it is severe arthritic fever. Similarly, government hospital superintendent Dr U. Surya Kumari opined that majority of the citizens are suffering from fever with joint pains.
 
Government General Hospital authorities also conducted Chikungunya tests to every patient but results showed negative. The hospital superintendent said they also noticed seriousness and increasing number of cases. She suggested the people to use masks when they visit the hospitals and patients. The viral fever will spread in air and it can be avoided by taking precautions.
 
However, the private hospitals in the city are also busy with patients from severe fever and body pain complaints. Everyday, they are receiving nearly 20 complaints from patients of similar kind of fevers and pains, one private practitioner at Ashoknagar said.
 
On the other hand, the municipal corporation health department is working its full strength of 17 doctors, 44 ANMs and 40 other staff. Corporation assistant medical officer Iqbal said that they also identified the seriousness of the problem and conducting medical camps at various places in the city. If needed they would provide treatment at the door steps. 
 
He suggested the people to drink  water after boiling it and use mosquito repellers.