Malaria cases rise in Hyderabad, falciparum deaths reported
HYDERABAD: Malaria cases are rising across Hyderabad, with dozens being reported daily from different localities. Health officials say the proportion of dangerous falciparum malaria infections has increased compared to previous years, causing concern.
Even before the onset of the monsoon season this year, the city has recorded 110 dengue cases and 20 malaria cases.
Delayed treatment leads to teenage girl’s death
A 17 year old girl, Priya, who had migrated with her family from Odisha to Alwal for work, developed a fever and underwent tests at a private hospital in Boinpally. Doctors confirmed falciparum malaria and advised shifting her to Gandhi Hospital or Osmania Hospital for emergency care.
Her parents admitted her to Osmania Hospital on Saturday. She died while undergoing treatment on Monday. Doctors said the delay in receiving timely and appropriate treatment contributed to her death.
Construction camps become mosquito breeding grounds
Temporary labour camps set up at apartment and high-rise construction sites have turned into mosquito breeding centres. Real estate developers have allegedly failed to take adequate precautions, leaving migrant workers vulnerable to dengue and malaria.
Residents in slums and middle-class colonies are also facing mosquito menace as civic staff have not been carrying out regular control measures.
Critics say senior officials, who are expected to monitor daily dengue and malaria case data and ensure treatment within 24 hours, are neglecting their responsibilities.
Staff shortages hit entomology monitoring across corporations
City administration now functions under three municipal corporations. The absence of chief entomologists in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and the other two civic bodies has left additional commissioners handling the health wing.
Officials cite workload and lack of time for neglecting entomology operations. For the past two years, door-to-door inspections, removal of stagnant water and awareness drives have not been conducted.
During the division into three corporations, GHMC Commissioner R V Karnan transferred sanitation workers across zones and corporations, with many posted nearly 30 km away from their homes. Workers have reportedly shown reluctance to attend duties due to long travel distances, affecting sanitation and medical services and contributing to the increase in fevers in the city.
