'Dengue-like' fever grips Marathwada, thousands taken ill

Aurangabad, Maharashtra, Mar 20 (UNI) ''Dengue-like'' fever has gripped at least three districts of Marathwada -- Nanded, Aurangabad and Beed-- where more than 2,500 patients have so far complained of high fever.

According to information gathered by UNI from the respective District Health Officers (DHO) of the affected districts, a total 2,793 people have been suffering from ''dengue-like'' fever since over a week or so.

Since it is a self-limiting disease these patients were being treated at their respective places, the health officials said.

There are at least 1,455 people suffering from high fever, similar to dengue, in Paithan tehsil of Aurangabad district over a period of a week, official sources said.

According to DHO, Aurangabad, Dr S K Yelurwar there are 714 people suffering from high fever in Paithan town alone and the remaining 741 in various villages of the Paithan tehsil.

In Nanded, DHO Dr S M Hasmi told mediapersons today that there are at least 1,088 people who have complained of ''dengue-like'' fever in various villages of the district.

District Epedemic Officer at Beed Dr P K Pingle said at least 250 people in eight villages of the district have been suffering from high fever for the last one week and they are being treated by the authorities.

The officer further added that few of the places of Beed district reported an outbreak of dengue and 'chiken gunia' in January, but added that now the outbreak of these diseases have been brought under control.

The three district health authorities have sent blood samples of the patients to the National Institute of Virology, Pune for antigen test and the reports are awaited.

The health officials were of the view that Aedes aegypti mosquito (a specific mosquito species) is the causative of the ailment, with the patients showing symptoms of high fever coupled with weakness, severe body and joints' pain.

These type of mosquitoes are mainly found in the stored water, particularly in tanks, the officals said and advised the people residing in the affected areas to clean up their water tanks at least once in a week to prevent the spread of the fever.

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