Viral fever cases on the rise in Vijayawada

VIJAYAWADA: The municipal administration has failed to attend to the health needs of the citizens Vijayawada, as its focus is confined to Pushkar Ghats and Pushkar-related activities. Viral fevers have gripped the city, following poor sanitation in several areas like Eluru Road, Bandar Road and BRTS road. The number of patients has been increasing in several hospitals, including GGH, Vijayawada.

The municipal health wing has so far not undertaken any awareness drives about possible dengue in the days to come, despite alerts from the Centre. When contacted, GGH, Vijayawada superintendent M. Jaganmohan Rao said that the number of patients has increased in the past one week, and complaints of jaundice, dengue and malaria fevers and headache abound.

“It is noticed that several patients and even some Pushkar pilgrims are being admitted into the special wards,” he said and added that on suspicion they are also examining cases related to malaria and dengue. In fact, HoD and Professor of General Medicine K. Satyanarayana Rao said response to the medication to the fever patients is good, when compared to the epidemic that hit Vijayawada four years ago. “We are thoroughly examining the cases,” Dr Satyanarayana Rao said, adding that some people were coming with the fear that their platelet count has come down.

“When platelet count is lower than 20,000, only then is treatment needed,” he said and advised patients not to worry. The GGH has 50 beds for fever patients in Pushkar wards, 150 in medical wards, and 10 beds in Acute Medical Care.