KHAMMAM: The district observed Thursday and Friday as ‘dry days’ to ward off dengue fever which has become rampant in the district.
Officials of all departments were asked to visit every house and prevail upon people to empty every water drum, overhead water tank, water cooler, etc and clean them in order not to make them breeding grounds for mosquitos.
A medical and health officer said that due to the busy routine of people in urban areas, they do not realise the importance of cleaning their water storage drums, tanks and water coolers, as a result of which dengue spreads. According to officials records, about 150 dengue fever cases have been identified in rural and urban areas of the district till Friday.
Usually, dengue fever strikes the Agency areas more but officials have, of late, come across dengue cases in urban areas too, which is causing concern to people. Realising the gravity of the situation, the district administration has asked all departments to create awareness among the people about dengue fever and take steps to prevent it’s occurrence. Medical and health staff have been asked to conduct a fever survey from Sep 7 to 17 in all villages and towns in the district.
There is a move to involve students in an awareness programme to be conducted in rural areas from September 8 to 10.
K Narasimha Rao, a trader in Khammam, alleged that municipal officials are indifferent to cleaning of drains.
According to district malaria officer Dr A Rambabu, about 700 malaria cases and a few typhoid cases have been identified in the district.