Dengue, malaria cases on the rise in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Even as the world is observing Mosquito Day on Thursday, a steady rise in cases of malaria and dengue is worrying doctors at Fever Hospital. World Mosquito Day is observed on August 20 to mark the historic discovery by British doctor Sir Ronald Ross in 1897 that malaria is transmitted between humans by female Anopheles mosquitoes. Officials said that 1,400 cases were screened till August in 2014 and this year the dengue centres have screened over 2,500 cases so far.

As many as 17 cells are equipped to deal with the dengue cases in district hospitals and teaching hospitals across the State. An increase in dengue cases might have been caused due to the strike by sanitation workers of GHMC, which left heaps of unattended



garbage piled up in the city. Doctors at Fever Hospital said reasons for increase in the incidence of dengue were due to lack of sanitation and irregular monsoon.

Talking about 25 cases of dengue this month and 39 cases seen last month, Fever Hospital superintendent Dr K Shankar said, “Cases of mosquito-borne diseases are rising, but the situation is much better when compared with last year. There have been no fatalities so far which can be taken as a positive sign.” Joint director, epidemics, Dr G Srinivas said, “Health department and GHMC officials are working in close coordination. Malaria and dengue control will be dealt with a proper way to protect the people in the city.”