Dengue On Rise, Covid Just A Seasonal Disease: Government

Director of Public Health Dr Srinivasa Rao today asked the people to protect themselves from seasonal diseases by taking all the requisite steps.

He cautioned the people to take precautions while drinking water and eating food, and ensure that their food and water did not get contaminated due to the ongoing incessant rains.

Speaking to media persons, he said that contamination of food and water would lead to the spread of viral fevers in the State.

He added that Health Minister T Harish Rao had already held a meeting with the DMHOs of all the districts and issued orders to them to be prepared to face the monsoon season.

The government would also hold anti-larval operations to prevent the spread of mosquitos in the State, Dr Rao said. The State had registered 1,184 dengue cases from January this year till now, with 222 cases being registered in just the first 10 days of July, he said. Hyderabad had registered the highest number, of 516 cases. The administration had initiated steps to check the rising dengue cases and had asked the DMHOs to increase the number of anti-larval operations in association with municipal, panchayat Raj department authorities, he said.

Commenting on malaria, he said that cases were being reported from three districts in the State, and that the number was growing in Mulugu and Bhadradri Kothagudem districts.

Dr Rao said that typhoid cases were also seeing an increase in number this year. The State had registered 2,700 typhoid cases in May and 2,752 cases in June, he said, and urged the people to observe dry days in their homes to keep the water-borne and seasonal diseases at bay.

Commenting on Covid, he said that it had turned into a seasonal disease now, and that no one need be worried about it any more now although the number of cases had risen in the last six weeks. He said that Covid had now turned an endemic. He added that it would be enough for Covid patients to be in quarantine for only five days now. Only Covid patients with respiratory problems should seek hospitalisation, he said.