Stay disease-free this monsoon season
Health officials urge people to focus on individual and household hygiene practices to keep seasonal ailments at bay
Hyderabad: The long season of monsoon between July and October is known to trigger vector, water and air-borne diseases, viral fevers and snake bites. While the State Public Health Department is getting ready to roll out its monsoon action plan, health officials here have urged people to do their bit and focus on individual and household hygiene practices to keep seasonal ailments at bay.
Traditionally, between July and October, Hyderabad records a rise in vector-borne ailments such as malaria, dengue and chikungunya. The next few months are also known to cause water-borne diseases including typhoid and diarrheal diseases and air-borne diseases like the seasonal flu and pneumonia. In addition, the season is known to cause a rise in viral fevers and snake bites.
“The Covid pandemic has influenced seasonal ailments in a big way in Telangana. Last year, there were just a few hundred cases of swine flu and this year, we are yet to receive a single swine flu or influenza case. If people continue to take precautions, especially focus on personal hygiene, we are sure that seasonal ailments will not impact our State this year,” said Director of Medical Education (DME) Dr K Ramesh Reddy, in a recent interaction with media persons.
As part of the action plan prepared by the Directorate of Public Health and Family Welfare, efforts are on to involve Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and Gram Panchayats (GP) in the fight against seasonal diseases. In the coming weeks, the Health Department will roll out a special drive for sanitation and ‘dry day’ campaign at identified high focus areas or hotspots in collaboration with ULBs and GPs.
“Last year, MA&UD Minister KT Rama Rao spearheaded a once in a week ‘dry day’ campaign that involved removing sources of stagnant water in households. That campaign was effective in making people aware of ‘dry day’, consuming boiled water and cooked food. We are also focusing on vector control measures like indoor residual spray through fogging, anti-larval operations, cleaning drains, open sources of stagnant water and removal of bushes and implement Friday as a dry day,” Director of Public Health (DPH) Dr G Srinivasa Rao said.
Depending on the caseload of seasonal ailments, authorities said that special OPs, exclusive isolation wards with dedicated beds will be taken up. “We are also building enough stocks of vital drugs for malaria including Chloroquine and Artesunate, important antibiotics and ORS sachets, anti-snake venom and consumables across all government hospitals,” officials said.
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