HYDERABAD: Eyes keep turning yellow, stomachs start rumbling and taps still spew muddy water. All is not well in the old city whilst the city, too, is on the road to sickbay.

Three months after the hepatitis virus laid a siege to parts of the old city, a complete recovery is yet to be registered. Health officials continue to record around five cases of jaundice daily with total cases reported since the initial outbreak in mid-March going up to 1,148.

Worsening their fears is a daily digest on diarrhoea, and this, from all over the city. At least 15 cases are reported every day. With the monsoon yet to bloom fully, the situation has prompted officials to work overtime.

Jaundice cases, according to the Assistant Medical Officer of Health (AMOH), G. Narender Reddy, continue to be reported at Fever and Niloufer hospitals from Moinbagh, Kala Patthar, Shahgunj, Sultan Shahi and Edi Bazar.

Quality of water is also a matter of concern, he says, adding that numbers can be deceptive as there are reports of people approaching quacks, not to forget those trooping to private hospitals.

The District Medical and Health Officer (DM&HO), S. Satyavathi, says an action plan on control of jaundice and communicable diseases is being implemented. Awareness campaigns, which began in March, are being taken up by medical officers of urban health posts and paramedical staff in slums and especially in Moinbagh, Fathesha Nagar, Yakutpura, Riyasathnagar, Hafeezbaba Nagar, Reinbazaar and Dabeerpura. Intensive residual chlorine checking and collection of metro water samples, borewell/open well samples and distribution of chlorine tablets to each house is on.

Seven teams formed

Seven circle-level teams have been formed to concentrate on problematic areas and to send regular samples of water and food for bacteriological analysis to the Institute of Preventive Medicine, Narayanguda.

Disinfection/anti-fly/mosquito measures, distribution of water-purifying Halazone tablets, regular raids by Central enforcement and vigilance squads on roadside eateries and launching of prosecution against violators are also on, Dr. Satyavathi says.

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