Dengue, chikungunya spread wings in city

Gagan K Teja

Tribune News Service

Patiala, September 13

With the rise in the number of dengue and chikungunya cases, the possibility of an outbreak of these two diseases looms large over Patiala. As many as 81 cases of dengue and 7 cases of chikungunya were reported in the city, which is now keeping the Patiala health department on its toes.

While dengue cases have started coming in since July, chikungunya cases have been reported between August 27 and September 9.

The Health Department has already deployed a rapid response team and a surveillance team in the city to treat patients. The teams are also taking precautionary measures to ensure that the diseases do not spread to other areas.

District Epidemiologist Dr Gurmanjeet Kaur said of the 7 chikungunya cases, three have been reported from different villages of Dudhan Sadhan, one each from Tripri, Shanti Nagar in Urban Estate and Samana. All patients are under the age of 15 years.

“Dengue and chikungunya tests are done free of cost at government hospitals and patients are also given free treatment,” she said.

She said the department had already carried out fogging in the areas and the affected persons are getting treatment at Government Rajindra Hospital and other health centres.

Patiala Civil Surgeon Dr Subodh Gupta said the situation was under control and the cases being reported were not acute. “We had written to the  Municipal Corporation informing it about the prevalence of larvae. Based on it, the team has already issued 6 challans in Patiala and two in Rajpura. Department teams are already going from one area to another educating people about the ways to control the diseases,” said Subodh.

Symptoms

Dengue

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by dengue virus. Symptoms typically begin three to fourteen days after infection. This may include high fever, headache, vomiting, muscle and joint pains and a characteristic skin rash.

Chikungunya

Chikungunya is an infection caused by chikungunya virus. Symptoms include sudden onset of fever two to four days after exposure. The fever usually lasts two to seven days, while accompanying joint pains typically last weeks or months. 

Fact file 

As many as 81 cases of dengue and 7 cases of chikungunya were reported in the city, which is now keeping the Patiala health department on its toes.

Teams deployed

The Health Department has already deployed a rapid response team and a surveillance team in the city to treat patients. The teams are also taking precautionary measures to ensure that the diseases do not spread to other areas.