Kakinada: There is an outbreak of dengue in Hukumpet village of Thondangi mandal in East Godavari district, as four cases have been confirmed and 19 are suspected.
A special ward has been set up in government general hospital (GGH), Kakinada, here to treat the patients from the village.
According to medical and health department officials, Ganta Nanda Kishore, 7, of the village succumbed to the fever last week.
Four others, who were suffering from dengue, were referred to GGH where dengue is confirmed.
Though about 50 to 60 more villagers have been suffering from fever, they have not shown any dengue symptoms.
District in-charge medical and health officer Dr M. Pawan Kumar said that a 24-hour medical camp with four doctors and paramedical personnel was set up the village for treating the patients.
Poor sanitation in the village may have led to the outbreak of the disease. District collector Neethu Prasad on Monday visited the village and issued necessary instructions to the officials of medical and health, panchayat, revenue and other departments to improve the conditions.
She instructed the officials to take all necessary measures to contain fevers. According to the villagers, many people are getting treatment in private hospitals at Kakinada and other areas.
DMHO Dr Pawan Kumar said nearly 50,000 Gambusia fish were released in to various tanks in the village as part of anti-larvae operations.
