Contrary to the claims of the medical and health authorities, the death toll in seasonal fevers, including malaria, in Vizag Agency area has crossed the 150-mark. In the last one week alone, 15 tribals have died of viral fever, malaria, diarrhoea and other seasonal diseases.

While there is a shortage of paracetamol tables in the primary health centres, there are no regular doctors in 17 PHCs in the Agency. According to officials, there are over 700 high risk malaria-affected villages in the Agency.

Sources said most of the deaths were occurring due to lack of medicines and transport facility. Curiously, the district medical and health officials have claimed that there were only two malaria deaths, while 65 others had succumbed to seasonal diseases. N. Bendri (35) and Bhumika (3) of Marriputtu village in Kummariputtu panchayat, Pangi Rambabu (28) of D Kummariputtu in Darela, V Jaggamma (60) of Talabthota in Sujanakota panchayat, A Sarwanandam (60) of Jangamsarayi in Yenugurai, L Lokeswari (6) of Mokkaputtu in Karinikaputtu and Baby (9) of Dumbriguda mandal had died of viral fevers. Of the seven deaths in the last one week, six were reported from Munchingput mandal alone. Five tribals suffering from high viral fever were in critical condition in Kummariputtu village.

The condition of Munchingput PHC leaves a lot to be desired. There are no paracetamol tablets, antibiotics, saline bottles, IV fluids, ORS sachets and BP tablets. Paderu CPM division secretary K Suryanarayana alleged that 150 people had succumbed to various diseases in the last two months. "Our party workers visited interior villages and found that more than 35 tribals had died of malaria alone. Shockingly, the medical authorities were claiming only two malaria deaths," he said.

Sources said more than 20 tribals had succumbed to jaundice and typhoid. Several others had due to viral fevers. Tribal students leader Rama Rao Dora lambasted the district administration for failing to supply mosquito nets and undertake fogging to check mosquite menace in the villages.

Jana Vignana Vedika leader and MLC M Geyanand alleged that the government has been giving false data on the fever deaths in the Agency. "Our team came across the deaths of 10 tribals due to malaria in Pedabayalu and Munchingput mandals recently," he claimed. The MLC said they conducted rapid tests on 70 people at Allamput in Pedabayalu mandal where 32 had tested malaria-positive. Of the 28 people tested in Lakshmipuram in Munchangiput, there were 12 malaria-positive cases.

"How can the government claim that there were no malaria cases? When will the officials rush medical aid to the affected tribals who are dying of malaria and other fevers?" he asked.