Nagpur: Despite heavy rush of patients suffering from dreaded Dengue fever reaching city hospitals, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation Health Department’s figures indicate very low prevalance of Malaria, Dengue and Filaria. Almost all major multispeciality hospitals in the city have patients suffering with high fever. From last several weeks, practically every household has witnessed one or the other member suffering from high fever and dengue like symptoms.
NMC’s Laxmi Nagar Zone Malaria, Fileria Officer Sanjay Nagrale stated, since January the zone has received about 60 cases of high fever. The blood samples were taken and sent to the Health Department of NMC. Jayashri Thote, City’s Malaria, Fileria Officer stated that during August, 51 cases of Dengue and one of Filaria were reported in the city.
The cases referred are not necessarily of Dengue. A large number of cases are suffering from high fever are not found positive for Dengue or Malaria. During August, malaria case has not been reported at the NMC’s Health Department.
NMC has issued notice of imposing heavy fine if larvae of dengue are found in any house. Fumigation in every area once in 15 days was also announced. However, there appears to be little effort to control breeding mosquitoes in the city. With huge construction work going on in the city small puddles filled with water can be seen in any locality.
Small ponds can be seen even in major place at the centre of the city Mor Bhavan Bus Stand, Sanchayani Complex and open spacee on its opposite side at Veer Savarkar Nagar Square, Somalwada and several places near Metro rail construction work.
In the name of beautification fountains were instaled under Gowari fly-over in front of Mor Bhavan. The fountains are not functioning, but the tank created for it is a breeding ground for the mosquiotoes. Even the traffic personnel posted near it expressed fear of getting infected.
The number of reported cases appear very small compared to the actual cases, as large number of patients treated at private clinics fail to report the cases to NMC. Reporting of dengue cases is mandatory for all. Some of the major hospitals have alleged that several cases are referred to them at criutical stage, after private practitioners treat them for fever and viral infections.
With increase in temperature in the next few days, the number of patients are likely to increase at a very fast pace.
