ON GUARD: With reports of chikungunya fever spreading in the city, homeo stores are witnessing a heavy rush with people desperate to purchase preventive drugs.

HYDERABAD: The Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad has intensified the sanitation and garbage clearance drive in various parts of the twin cities, especially concentrating in vulnerable areas like slums in view of the chikungunya scare.

Additional Commissioner for Health & Sanitation L. Vandan Kumar said on Sunday that more number of sanitary staff and private personnel had been pressed into service in places where a large number of fever cases are being reported.

More fever cases

Sanitation staff, formed into groups, are taking up cleaning operations, liberally sprinkling disinfectant bleaching powder and spraying larvicide near places of mosquito-breeding spots. Fresh complaints of fevers have been coming in from Indiranagar, Bholakpur, Patigadda, Azampura, P.J.R. Nagar and other places.

Mr. Kumar insisted that the situation was under control and there was no need for panic because actual incidence of confirmed chikunguya cases was very less.

Of the 560 samples sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune in the last one month, only 37 had tested positive.

However, the corporation was alert for any epidemic outbreak. Already 42 free medical camps were operating in places like Rehmatnagar, Putlibowli, Doodhbowli, Ghode-ke-khabar and other places in the old city. Another camp is likely to open on Monday.

More than half of 65 doctors on its rolls are manning these camps.

Free medicine

Free distribution of medicines and blood tests are being conducted at these camps. Wherever necessary samples are being sent to the NIV lab, Mr. Kumar said.

Fogging operations are being taken up to cover all vulnerable areas at least once every week. The MCH decided to conduct free medical camps in all municipal circles every month for its sanitary staff and private workers, including rag pickers.

Tests for HIV, malaria, blood sugar, etc., will be conducted regularly and medicines distributed freely.

The first such camp was held in Circle VI on Sunday.

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