Telangana is reeling under a major outbreak of viral fevers, especially Dengue, Malaria, Chikungunya, and other malignant fevers, piling pressure on both government and private hospitals. The condition has turned serious with most hospitals running out of their beds and admitting two patients on one bed. The state has reported 5,372 cases of Dengue since January, with the capital city of Hyderabad being the worst affected as it reported 1,852 cases.
Suryapet accounted for 471 cases, followed by Medchal 426 cases, Khammam 375 cases, and Nalgonda 315 cases. These are official figures, and actual unreported cases are believed to be much more. The spread of viral fevers is giving sleepless nights to health officials in districts like Nizamabad, which witnessed over 350 Dengue cases.
Government facilities are hence becoming a burden with over 8,000 fever patients pouring in. A similar crisis has arisen in the Karimnagar district, where as many as 200 Dengue patients have been admitted to the district hospital in 20 days. People staying in rural areas of the district are also severely affected. Many villagers are bedridden due to fevers. Doctors say even after the subsidence of fever, the recovery is slow, which strains the healthcare system more.
Medical experts said viral fever, they said the disease was on the increase due to poor sanitation and overcrowding that is an invitation to spreading infections. Some experts also feel the new virus strain can be a factor in the gravity of the situation. The WHO has included Dengue as one of the deadliest diseases in the world, and measures of precaution should be taken on an urgent basis for it.
What is further contributing to the crisis is the reported shortage of medicines, right from primary health centers to medical colleges, across the state.
Supplies from CDS have been totally disrupted; sources admitted to Express that basic stocks of medicines, injections and surgical items have fallen to alarmingly low levels. It is learned that the suppliers have artificially created a shortage considering that the government owes them bills worth around ₹ 600 crore. Others also reported that medicines used for the treatment of fever were also eaten by rats which further shocked them.
The Telangana Health Department has, however, termed the reports of Dengue death sensational and false and said that officially no death due to Dengue was reported on August 23. The State Government is also claiming that it had started the seasonal disease control programme from the month of May itself and Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha is busy touring the entire State along with senior officials and is monitoring the situation.
However, opposition party BRS has called for declaring a health emergency in the state of Telangana. BRS Working President KTR has wondered as to what logic had led the State government to deny deaths due to Dengue. He compared the facts and figures between official reports and media stories and requested the government to wake up to the reality of the Dengue crisis and asked it to take urgent decisions.
In an effort to deal with the growing health crisis, the Chief Minister chaired a special review meeting at the Secretariat.
Exhibiting serious concern for the matter at hand, he ordered enhanced fogging and spraying in towns and villages to get rid of the mosquitoes. He advised officials to undertake field inspections regularly and coordinate between departments to prevent diseases. He warned that any government lapse in the protection of public health would not be tolerated, and police, voluntary organizations, and the media would be at the forefront of cooperation in controlling the outbreak.
