Hyderabad, December 21: IF you thought that diseases spread faster only in slum areas, think again. It is not the slums but upmarket areas like Jubilee Hills, Banjara Hills, Madhapur, Begumpet among others where water-borne, vector-borne and air-borne diseases are spreading rapidly. This has been the case since 2008.
The Health and Sanitation Department of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) officials confirmed that it is the residents of these posh areas who are turning out to be the most affected when it comes to diseases.
“The figure has been increasing since last one year as a number of localities in these posh areas are facing water-logging, disturbance of underground drainage system including poor sanitation. At least 700 cases were registered in 2008 while as many as 1,000 cases were registered in the current year (till November),” informs GHMC Chief Medical Officer, Jayaram told ‘Expresso’.
Secunderabad, Ameerpet and Punjagutta too figure in the list of areas of affected by communicable diseases and the main cause being consumption of contaminated water. As many as 500 people were hospitalised due to communicable diseases this year.
However, officials said that the residents of these upmarket areas are affected by vector-borne diseases like malaria, dengue and chikunguniya while those living in slums continue to suffer from A (H1N1) influenza virus or swine flu.
“We are taking all pre-cautionary measures to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. We have identified the most affected areas and are studying why the epidemics are spreading in these places. Special medical teams will be constituted to monitor the health conditions in all localities,” said S Aleem Basha, Additional Commissioner, Health and Sanitation, GHMC.
With reports that chicken pox could spread this season, well-equipped medical centres are being set up at various places.
Jayaram said that as many as 200 cases of suspected dengue and 150 confirmed cases were reported from each of the 150 divisions in the city per month. “We had given instructions to all Government hospitals and health centres staff to distribute medicines to prevent spread of communicable diseases,” he added.
—Agencies