Viral fevers and seasonal diseases are plaguing the agency's areas

By Our Special Correspondent

Viral fevers and seasonal diseases are now plaguing the agency areas which were inundated by rains and floods recently. The number of patients is increasing in many hospitals.

Although the officials say that 1,168 people are affected by fever, the actual number of people affected by fever in the district is estimated to be more than 3 thousand. While many suffer from dengue symptoms, the rest have malaria.

Fever is prevalent in 35 villages including Marumuru, Nandigama, Erragattu, Raghavapuram in Etapaka mandal. The intensity is high in Kuyuguru and Kalleru in Chintoor and Kalleru panchayats. There are more than 50 RMPs in the respective mandals and they are attending to the patients.

It is reported that there are more than 80 thousand families in these four mandals while there are only nine PHCs. Each PHC has a doctor and other staff. The Social Health Center is at Koonavaram and the Area Hospital is at Chintoor.

He said that doctors come to these hospitals three days a week on deputation from Rajamahendravaram and Kakinada. Malaria and dengue fevers are rampant in Rampachodavaram agency area.

ITDA project officer Suraj Ganor confirmed that two cases of malaria have been reported in Rampachodavaram ITDA. Spraying was done according to malaria protocol in those areas. He said that we are trying to provide better treatment to the victims.

200 beds in Paderu Hospital are filled with patients. The hospital staff said that most of the patients were students of ashram schools. Sode Krantikumar of Kuyyagur, Chinthuru mandal was suffering from fever and was treated at the area hospital from July 23 to 28.

He was shifted to a private hospital in Bhadrachalam as the fever did not subside. He was diagnosed with dengue and died on Sunday due to reduced platelets.

Kaka Arjun Dora of Murumuru, Etapaka Mandal said that his two children were infected with viral fever and the treatment cost Rs.3, 500. According to locals, Vasala Ramu and Ravva Bhadramma of Chinthur Mandal died of fever last week.