VISAKHAPATNAM: The city registered nearly 50 dengue and malaria fevers this year from January till date. The number of cases was low compared to the years before as the Covid-19 hit the nation in March last year, said a Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) public health official.
According to GVMC biologist V Varahalu Dora, 14 malaria cases were traced within the city limits from January till Saturday as against eight cases last year during the corresponding period.
Similarly, only 35 dengue cases were reported this year against 45 last year during the same period, Dora said while adding that these were negligible when compared to the city’s 25 lakh population.
Speaking to this newspaper, GVMC chief medical officer K.S.L.G. Sastry attributed this to the Covid-19 induced lockdowns and improvement in sanitary measures taken by the public. The department also daily took utmost care on the public health due to the Covid-19 since the beginning of the pandemic in March last year.
The city registers at least 100 fever cases in a month despite taking all precautionary measures like fogging, spraying etc. The dengue and malaria cases are usually reported high during the monsoon season.
The GVMC already instructed the secretariats of 572 Sachivalayams in the city and ward volunteers to keep track of seasonal fevers apart from general fever, which is one of the symptoms of Covid-19.
