Chittor, July 26: Seasonal and communicable diseases like gastroenteritis and viral fevers such as dengue and brain fever, which are rampant in many mandals, have claimed 42 lives in the district since June.
Interestingly the diseases have struck even mandals which surround towns and the district headquarters, leave alone remote and underdeveloped mandals which lack proper health care system.
According to sources, gastroenteritis alone caused the death of 32 persons so far. In the past two months no day passed without people being hospitalised with viral fever or gastroenteritis. Gastro is virulent in 15 mandals including Santhipuram, Gangavaram, Baireddypalli, V Kota, Puthalapattu, KVB Puram, Thottambedu and Vadamalapeta while denguem which claimed seven lives, is rampant in eight mandals including PTM , Tamballapalli, B Kothakota and Molakalacheruvu.
Brain fever cases were reported from Varadaiahpalem were three children died of the disease.
While contaminated water is the main reason for gastro, unhygienic conditions are compounding the problem. In several instances, damaged pipelines or rusted borewells caused contamination of drinking water. Most of the panchayats including major panchayats and municipalities failed to ensure proper sanitary conditions. Insufficient staff and apathy of the doctors at 85 primary health centres (PHCs) and 13 area hospitals are cited as the other reasons for the serious situation.
The death of a young woman, Khasmoon, in Piler due to swine flu mirrors the health scenario in the district.
DMHO Lalithakumari said the PHCs were ready to tackle the situation.
She warned that action would be taken against staff if found guilty.
District panchayat officer (DPO) Nagaraj said efforts were on to improve sanitation in the panchayats.
–Agencies