With monsoon gaining momentum, viral, vector and waterborne diseases are spreading in the city and state. Of the 800 to 900 out-patients coming to the Government Fever Hospital since last week, around 80 per cent are viral fever cases including diphtheria and mumps. There is a 15-20 per cent increase in malaria and viral fever cases compared to last month. Dengue cases have also gone up by more than three times compared to last year according to the State Epidemic Cell.
Among waterborne diseases, typhoid and diarrhoea cases are predominant. Dr B. Balaji, professor of medicine at Osmania Medical College and civil surgeon at the Fever Hospital, said, “Compared to last month, cases of various ailments have gone up by 10 to 20 per cent. Last week, we got around 800 to 900 OPD cases, and of them around 150 had to be admitted. Around 80 per cent were cases of various types of fevers, while the rest are cases of vector and water- borne ailments like malaria, diarrhoea and typhoid,” said the doctor.
As for vector-borne diseases, the State Epidemic Cell (SEC) has recorded 13,584 malaria, 380 dengue and 40 chikunguniya cases so far this year. “Malaria is rampant in tribal agency areas like Srikakulam, Vizia-nagaram, and Adilabad, whereas dengue is prevalent in the 16 districts including Chittoor, Prakasam, Kurnool and Mahbubnagar. The single confirmed dengue and malaria deaths have also come from Kurnool,” said an official from the State Epidemic Cell.