AP CM asks officials to tackle water, vector-borne diseases

Hyderabad, July 11 (UNI) Expressing concern over the incidence of Chikungunya viral disease, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today exhorted officials to take effective measures to control vector and water-borne diseases.

Holding a high level review meeting with Health, Panchayatraj and Municipal and Urban Development Department officials, Dr Reddy asked them to continue the present strategy of checking mosquito breeding and initial symptomatic treatment for Chikungunya.

As many as two lakh people had been affected by the viral disease in the state so far. The number of affected had drastically come down to 4,688 cases after peak of 17,322 cases in April, State Health Principal Secretary I V Subba Rao told reporters after the meeting.

The government had procured and distributed 2.50 lakh doses of vaccine against 'brain fever' to the districts, he said adding the Chief Minister wanted them to ensure greater community participation in measures for checking diseases.

Referring to the stray dog menace, he said the government was holding talks with animal rights organisations to evolve a consensus on ways to control the menace and popularise the cheaper intra-dermal rabies vaccine.

UNI SM GM SK ND1638