PADERU (VISAKHAPATNAM): 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.