Rajahmundry, Sep 1st: Incidence of dengue is on the rise in the city going by the number of cases (some 100) reported in four private hospitals. There is, however, no confirmation about prevalence of dengue by municipal and health officials. Precautionary measures are being taken to check any such incidence on a war-footing, they say. It is reliably learnt that some 25 children are down with fever and symptoms associated with dengue in four major private hospitals in Danvaipeta and Prakasamnagar areas.

Joga Rao, a doctor in Siddartha Hospital, says that cases from peripheral rather than urban areas are on the rise. According to him, detection of cases is based on haematological indexes of blood, for which blood samples gave to be sent to virology institute in Pune. High fever, rashes, cough and cold and fall of platelet count in blood are the main symptoms of dengue, says Dr. Rao.

District Medical and Health Officer D. Vijayakumar says that they have come to know about three suspected dengue cases out of which two are in Rajahmundry. There are seven suspected cases of dengue in the district, he says, adding that alert, health officials have treated the eighth case reported at Thurangi.