No Dengue Epidemic In Telangana: Health Minister

Telangana Health Minister C Lakshma Reddy today stated that there was no dengue epidemic in the State, and that dengue was not a deadly fever and can be treated if detected early on.

In a conference held with the media, the Health Minister said that though the number of dengue cases was rising, it was under control and not in a stage where it could be declared an epidemic.

He claimed that only two casualties in Ravinuthala village of the Khammam district were due to dengue and others were caused by cardiac arrest, road accident, kidney failure and various other reasons. He alleged false propaganda by the Congress party.

"I have toured Khammam along with minister Thummala Nageswara Rao and took stock of the situation, and also initiated steps to prevent an outbreak. The State Government is prepared to take on the viral fever and contain its spread. All hospitals and primary health centers in Khammam have been equipped with medicines and staff to address the problem. At Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao's directive, the officials are taking necessary measures to address the problem in agency areas including the Eturu Nagaram, Utnoor, Bhadrachalam and Nallamala areas," he said.

"We have created dengue prevention awareness among people in rural areas through campaigns. Efforts are on to contain the spread of dengue and other contagious diseases. Special teams of doctors are being deployed on field to all affected areas," the minister said.

He urged people not to fall for propaganda and conspiracy theories that were being spread by private hospitals and Opposition parties such as the Congress and the TDP.