Vijayawada sees surge in viral fever cases

VIJAYAWADA

: Increasing number of

viral fever cases

in the city has become a major concern for the public as well as health workers. Hospitals across the city are flooded with fever patients even as the district administration has been focusing on fever survey to detect Covid-19 and dengue cases early.

With rains continuing for the last twenty days, mosquito menace has worsened in the city. Vacant plots are filled with water. They have turned breeding grounds for the mosquitoes and the public are at the receiving end.

Fever cases are being reported in urban slum areas and flood affected areas in the city. “Of the four members of my family, two tested positive for malaria. Mosquito menace is on the rise in our area. Many people in my locality are sick. Officials should take necessary action,” said K Madhava Rao, a resident of Prabha colony at Ajith Singh Nagar.

Fearing contracting Covid-19, people prefer private hospitals to treat fever cases. Serpentine queues are noticed at private clinics across the city. “Patients with viral fever and dengue symptoms are coming in large numbers to our clinic. They are complaining of joint pain indicating chikungunya. One should be very cautious about mosquitoes,” said Dr. Raghunandan, a physician practising at

Madhuranagar

.

Meanwhile, various special drives conducted by the civic body are failing to produce results. Municipal commissioner Prasanna Venkatesh has directed the malaria wing authorities to focus on anti-larval activities including fogging.