The fear of chikungunya has returned to haunt people living in areas endemic for vector-borne diseases in Kothagudem, Palvancha and Bhadrachalam divisions in the district.
According to official sources, about 20 suspected cases of chikungunya were reported from Garla Voddu village in Enkoor mandal on Friday.
More than a dozen fever cases were also reported from the same village. Most of the patients complained of fever, debilitating joint pains and headache, the symptoms akin to chikungunya, sources added.
Several areas in Kamepally and Julurupadu mandals, besides a few other remote villages notorious for illicit liquor (gudumba) brewing elsewhere in the district, witnessed dozens of chikungunya cases a few years ago, sources said.
Meanwhile, the field staff of the District Malaria Control Wing stepped up surveillance near mosquito breeding sites at Garla Voddu and other villages affected by vector-borne diseases in Enkoor and its neighbouring mandals.
A team led by the District Malaria Officer A. Rambabu collected the blood samples of 34 fever patients in Garla Voddu on Friday and sent them to the district headquarters hospital for serological tests.
The team also visited Vinoba Nagar in Julurupadu mandal where several fever cases, including one dengue positive case, were reported a few days ago. It may be noted that a total of 12 suspected typhoid cases were reported from the same village last month.
When contacted, Mr. Rambabu told The Hindu that the blood samples of 34 fever patients were sent to the district headquarters hospital for diagnostic tests.
Twenty fever patients complained of chikungunya-like symptoms, he said, adding that they were awaiting the test reports.
The ongoing medical camp will continue for a week in Garla Voddu village, he said.
