Anti-larval operations taken up as dengue cases rise in Secunderabad Cantonment

SECUNDERABAD: A dengue scare is looming large in several parts of Secunderabad Cantonment. Senior health officials said 30 dengue cases have been reported in the Cantonment between July first week and September third week.
A majority of the cases are reported from Mahendra Hills, Bowenpally and Rasoolpura, while Picket and Bolaram are accounting for fresh dengue cases. This has left Cantonment board’s health and sanitation officials worried.
Staff of Telangana medical and health department swung into action and surveyed the areas, enquiring about the dengue cases.In Rasoolpura, 40 per cent of residents are locals, while another 40 per cent are migrants.
Ch Narasimha, malaria sub-unit officer, told TOI that dengue cases were steadily rising in Cantonment. “A large number of cases are being noticed in densely-populated areas like slums and people residing along the nalas. We have alerted the SCB health and sanitation wing to take up sanitation on a war-footing,” he said.
Health workers are visiting the affected areas and explaining measures to be followed to prevent mosquito breeding by maintaining proper sanitation. “Our teams are taking up fogging and anti-larval spraying,” said a senior SCB official.
Anti-larval operations were taken up at Ramannakunta lake and Trimulgherry lake. The official said residents were given health tips on how to prevent spread of dengue.
“Dengue cases could be more as a majority of the residents are approaching corporate hospitals and taking treatment there,” a health official said. Since dengue patients are not treated at Cantonment urban health centres, people are heading to corporate hospitals for treatment, officials said.