Patients undergo treatment at RIMS on Sunday. (Hardeep Singh)

Ranchi, Aug. 7: After East Singhbhum, viral fever is stalking the capital and its adjoining areas, putting the health establishment on malaria, chikungunya and dengue alert.

While the state-run Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), which already has a diagnostic facility, is keeping an eye on tell-tale symptoms, Ranchi sadar hospital has set up a special four-bed cell and is trying to procure kits to diagnose the diseases.

The first viral case in Ranchi was detected a month ago, but the fever has become pandemic over the past two weeks. Though hospitals are yet to face bed crunch, OPDs are being swamped by ailing patients regularly.

“The sadar hospital receives some 200 patients everyday and 75 per cent of them have viral fever,” said civil surgeon Dr A.K. Choudhary. “We will soon get kits to diagnose chikungunya and dengue,” he added.

At RIMS, 300 patients with viral fever are visiting the OPD everyday. Some have been detected with malaria.

The hospital has been on strict vigil ever since eight cases of chikungunya and two of dengue were confirmed in Jamshedpur at the beginning of this month. “We have the facility to test blood samples for chikungunya and dengue. However, no patient has tested positive so far,” said director Tulsi Mahto.

Besides, the sadar hospital and RIMS, Nagar Mal Modi Seva Sadan, Raj Hospital and Guru Nanak Hospital are also choking with patients.

Doctors are blaming the humid weather for the rising viral cases. Normally, a patient with viral fever takes 3-4 days to recover with proper medication. “But if the fever persists for more than 5-6 days, the person should be admitted to hospital,” Choudhary said.