Viral diseases in Delhi and across the country have assumed alarming proportions.

Even as the Supreme Court has directed the Delhi government to check the spread of viral diseases like dengue and chikungunya, Dr AK Seth, Homeopathic Consultant, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, has opined that the rise in the number of viral infections this year is a testament that Prime Minister Narendra Modi&’s pet project, Swachh Bharat’ (CleanIndia) is not working at all.

In an exclusive interview to thestatesman.com, Dr Seth shares his concern on the issue and lists out ways to curb the spread of viral diseases.

Q Chikungunya is prevalent in certain countries. What do you think is the main reason for the spread in India?

A. It is a question of hygiene and cleanliness. It is not only in Delhi or in India.

Its spread is more predominant in places where there are several stagnant water bodies and the surroundings are unclean. Water bodies collected around houses, especially in resettlement colonies, breed mosquitoes and these mosquitoes cause chikungunya and dengue fever.

Q What is the reason for the alarming rise in the incidence rate from 64 in 2015 to more than 2600 this year?

A. As you know, there is this constant political conflict going on over who is ruling Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party or the Bharatiya Janata Party. Amid the feud, the people and the issue are ignored completely.

Q What should be done to contain or manage the issue?

A.Water bodies need to be sealed, treated or managed by civic bodies. They should be cleaned or should not be there. In Brisbane also there are water bodies. So, they put fish in all the ponds which eat the larvae. The same method should be used in India. It is the easiest thing to do.

Q We are a progressive nation, yet why do we lack in hygiene and cleanliness?

A. Blame it on government negligence and citizens negligence. Everybody feels that he will be alright. He will not suffer. Others will suffer. Why bother? With that attitude they throw their garbage onto others’ areas.

Q Don’t you think Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swachh Bharat Mission is helping?

A. It is not working at all, but it should work. His government is giving enough incentive. If he has developed a new idea, everybody should follow it. Showing few politicians sweeping an area will not solve the problem. Concerned government officials should visit prone areas before the rain starts and see that all water bodies are well managed. Citizens should contribute to the solutions. The negligence is not only on the part of the government, but also citizens.

Q It is said that there is no cure for chikungunya? There are reports that Homeopathy has cure for it?

A. There is no cure for any viral diseases. It has to run its course. Whenever such things happen, some people take advantage of the situation by selling and marketing certain medicines. They will say this medicine is good without any proven experience or record. But, the government should intervene. Lot of funds is being diverted into the Central Council of Research in Homoeopathy. It has centres all over the country. They should remain prepared for such outbreaks. They should analyse the strain of virus that produces viral fever and other symptoms and come up with remedy as a preventive as well as for the treatment.

Q How many cases have you treated? What is the success rate? Are your patients mostly from a particular group?

A. We treat 50-60 cases per day and the success rate of homeopathic treatment we provide is 70-80 per cent. People affected come from different strata of society and are of all age groups.

Q How do we differentiate between normal and viral or dengue and chikungunya fever?

A. It is very confusing. It is difficult to differentiate the symptoms as they are more or less the same in viral cases. And the result and diagnosis also take some time. So many times patients report two viral diseases. It can even be chikungunya and malarial fever at the same time. Then, it becomes complicated and fatal. And the treatment depends on how you diagnose it.

Q Doctors seem to be divided over the fatality aspect of chikungunya. According to AIIMS, it is 0.1%. How fatal is it?

A. It is not that fatal. But, it is crippling. It can last from months to years and can take the shape of inflammatory joint disease. It can prolong beyond three years in case of aged patients. Its after-effects are more dangerous than the fever. Fever will subside after seven to eight days, but prolonged inflammation can affect the brain and lead to other major health problems. But such fatality is very rare.

Q Which is more fatal Rs dengue or chikungunya? Is the number of dengue patients higher than chikungunya in Delhi?

A. We get more number of dengue patients and dengue is more fatal than chikungunya, but the difference is not much. However, the latter is more painful and prolonged.

Q What is the best treatment for the disease?

A. Homeopathy treatment is a wonderful remedy. But we need to worry about prevention and treatment of the acute phase followed with prevention of the chronic phase. One should not indulge in self-diagnosis. One should visit the nearest doctor and get the fever diagnosed as early as possible. Take precaution and do the right thing. If doctor says you can wait for the fever to subside in four to five days, taking paracetamol should be fine. But if the fever persists, one should go for medical tests.

Q What is the homeopathic approach to treating viral fever?

A. We treat the patients, not chikungunya. If 10 patients with fever come in, there can be 10 separate treatments and medicines for them. The government, however, should finance the treatment. They should give green signals to the doctor, saying "We will finance you to volunteer" to treat such cases. But in India, if 10 people die, they are not concerned unless the media spreads the news. They are not bothered because the population is very high.

Q Are the available healthcare facilities in Delhi good enough?

A. Yes. As doctors, we are doing our best to help patients. And, there are enough hospitals and facilities. There are clinics set up by the Delhi government Rs Mohalla clinics. Problem is some are not doing their duty. People who are concerned and have knowledge should be appointed there.

Q Do you think there is not enough awareness about homeopathic treatment?

A. There is awareness. Lot of patients come to us. The government has to sensitise people that apart from allopathy, homeopathy can also treat the disease and more successfully. The kind of rush at allopathic hospitals would have been reduced, if homeopaths are given the responsibility to treat patients affected by dengue or chikungunya.

Q How are we lagging, as citizens and governments, in preventing or containing such viral diseases? What aspect of the problem is most concerning to you?

A. The government does not seem to be working at all. What pains me is that viral disease in India is something that can be prevented. But so many people have died owing to it. Both the government and citizens are not working on prevention. Instead, they indulge in blame game when people are dying? Patients are being troubled like anything.