VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh is being buffeted by two mosquito-borne fevers, dengue and malaria, besides a surge in swine flu. Till August 3, 706 dengue and 7,355 malaria cases had been reported. In the last fortnight, 12 of the 13 districts in the state had been affected by malaria and 11 districts by dengue. Two deaths have been declared officially, but unconfirmed reports say at least three.
Andhra Pradesh stands fifth in the number of dengue cases reported across the country, next to Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Gujarat. The disease is rampant in Guntur, Anantapur, Visakhapatnam, Krishna, Chittoor and Prakasam districts.
The dengue surge is evident in the numbers from Ananapur district. In 2016, up to July 2, there had been 16 dengue cases. The figure this year is 152. The government has declared a Domalapai Dandayatra (war on mosquitoes).