Former Telangana DPH urges stronger Covid-19 surveillance amid rise in Andhra Pradesh cases

Former Telangana Director of Public Health Dr G. Srinivasa Rao has urged the State government to strengthen Covid-19 surveillance, testing and public communication amid rising cases in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. He also warned about increasing dengue and other monsoon-related diseases.

Hyderabad: Former Director of Public Health (DPH), Telangana, Dr G Srinivasa Rao, who was at the helm of affairs during the Covid pandemic, has criticised the State government for not being proactive in dealing with the recent surge of Covid-19 infections in Andhra Pradesh.

“There are reports of Covid-19 positive cases and even deaths emerging from Telangana. And yet, the State Government has not been issuing regular and transparent health bulletins to keep the public informed. Transparency is essential for building public confidence and ensuring timely response,” Dr Rao said.

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While neighbouring States have intensified surveillance and preparedness against emerging public health threats, Telangana’s Health Department appears to be complacent and inadequately prepared, he said, while interacting with media persons on Thursday.

The spread of Omicron and fresh Covid infections in AP should serve as a wake-up call for Telangana to strengthen surveillance and preparedness, he said while calling upon the State Government to ensure the availability of Rapid Antigen Tests and RT-PCR testing facilities at Government Hospitals and Primary Health Centres. He further recommended that all COVID-positive samples be subjected to genomic sequencing through designated national laboratories to identify circulating variants and communicate the findings transparently to the public.

Apart from Covid-19, the former DPH warned that dengue, malaria, chikungunya and several water-borne diseases are also showing an increasing trend during the ongoing monsoon season.

“By this time, the State Government should have undertaken statewide fever surveillance, expanded COVID-19 testing, strengthened contact tracing and intensified disease surveillance during this critical period,” he said.

The former DPH urged pregnant women, senior citizens and individuals with chronic illnesses to remain especially vigilant. Those experiencing fever, persistent cough or breathing difficulty should immediately visit the nearest Government Hospital for medical evaluation and testing. Wearing a mask in crowded places or when symptomatic should also be encouraged.