The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Fevers claim 30 lives in tribal villages

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 12, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Fevers claim 30 lives in tribal villages

D. Chandra Bhaskar Rao

BHADRACHALAM: The tribal villages of Bhadrachalam are shivering. High incidence of fever had so far claimed 30 lives during the past three weeks and a majority of them are children below 14 years. The officials have confirmed the number of deaths but they have attributed only three of them to malaria.

Despite the deployment of some 50 medical teams in the tribal pocket, there is no let up. Almost all the tribal primary health centres are overcrowded. So is the case with the area hospital in Bhadrachalam. As more and more patients are making a beeline to the hospitals, the medical authorities are finding it difficult provide beds to them.

Many of the patients are sharing the beds and taking treatment in the corridors of the government hospitals. A 13-year-old student, Burothu Deepika from the Girls High School at Wyra, taken ill few days ago, succumbed to high temperature while she was being shifted from Lachagudem to the hospital in an ambulance vehicle on Monday.

Her sister Mounika, 9, is battling for life. The officials of the Medical and Health Department have confirmed that Deepika died of malaria.

An Intermediate student, Challa Nagamani, died of fever in Ganugapadu village of Chandrugonda mandal on Sunday night. She was under treatment in a private hospital where it was confirmed to be a case of malaria.

The officials however have little information about the death. A three-old-boy, Madakam Nagu of Vinayakapuram colony died in the hospital at Sathupalli on Sunday night.

All others died of various reasons, said District Medical and Health Officer Dr. Y. Babji. He said renal failure, heart-related problems have taken a fair toll of lives. Only three cases of malaria-related deaths were reported in Penuballi and Gouridevipet villages of Bhadrachalam division and another hamlet near Wyra in Khammam division. A majority of the malaria cases were reported from Chinarkur and Lakshmidevipalli villages of Kunavaram mandals. A cluster of tribal villages near Chintoor had also been the source of a large number of malarial cases.

13 dengue cases

In all 67 blood serums sent from different place in the district last week for examination 17 tested positive for dengue. Two persons died of dengue so far.

In Penuballi village of Bhadrachalam division, a tribal woman, Midium Shila, 25, died of fever on December 6.

Her father and mother also died of fever almost a fortnight ago. Her two children, Subahdra and Sulomi, also affected fever, are battling for life.

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