Fever survey: Over 4 lakh symptomatic patients identified in Telangana; highest in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Nearly 4 lakh symptomatic patients have been identified during the fever survey in Telangana from January 21 to January 31.

Nearly 99,66,191 houses were covered in the door-to-door survey. Plus 7,73,961 COVID OP consultations were analyzed. Around 4,34,982 symptomatic patients were identified. Nearly 4,32,518 medical kits were distributed among symptomatic patients

Hyderabad had the highest number of symptomatic patients at 41,775, followed by Bhadradri Kothagudem (32,792), and Medchal Malkajgiri (26,362).Hanumakonda (26,104), Khammam (23,038), Nalgonda (20,719), and Sangareddy (20,647). 12 districts had symptomatic cases above 10,000 and the rest had cases in 4-digits.

Reading it along with COVID-19 numbers

Interestingly, the state Covid-19 bulletin data showed daily cases around 2000-4000 cases during the same period. From January 21 to January 31, according to the state COVID-19 bulletin, a total of 41,508 COVID-19 cases were recorded in the state. However, the fever survey identified 4,34,982 symptomatic patients, which is 10 times more than the COVID-19 cases reported in the daily bulletins.

Hyderabad saw a total of 14,705 cases while in the same period, the fever survey showed 41,775 symptomatic patients (almost three times the reported COVID-19 cases). Similarly, Bhadradri Kothagudem had a total of 936 cases during this period whereas 32,792 symptomatic patients (35 times the reported COVID-19 Caes) were identified during this period. Medchal Malkajgiri recorded 3441 COVID-19 cases according to state data, but the fever survey identified 26,362 symptomatic patients (over 7 times the number of COVID-19 cases reported).

Yes, not- all fevers or fever-like symptoms indicate COVID-19 but reading the fever survey data along with the COVID-19 daily bulletins do make us raise an eyebrow at the numbers.

Fever survey

Amid a spike in COVID-19 cases and the growing concern over the Omicron variant, Telangana health minister T. Harish Rao on January 20 had announced that the state government will start conducting fever survey from 21 January.

The fever survey included both outpatient clinics and a door-to-door survey. Municipal and panchayat officials along with health personnel were involved in the door-to-door survey.

The programme was conducted to test and isolate people having fever or fever-like symptoms at an early stage. During the survey, if anyone was found suffering from any flu-like symptoms, the teams will identify, isolate, and provide medical kits to patients irrespective of their test results and do a follow-up for 5 days. As per the fever survey, if found necessary, the symptomatic person will be shifted to the nearest government hospital.