Dengue count 258; docs’ holidays cancelled

Mohit Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 8

After the dengue count touched the 258 mark today, the UT Health Department has cancelled the holidays of all doctors of the Malaria Department and also fixed the testing price.

Dr Gaurav Aggarwal, anti-malaria officer, UT, said Rs 650 had been fixed for the dengue test. All medical institutions and labs had been informed not to overcharge from patients.

Holidays and weekly offs of doctors attached with the malaria wing were cancelled, said Dr Aggarwal.

He said a majority of the cases were reported from the peripheral areas, including Khuda Ali Sher, Ram Darbar, Khuda Lahora and Mauli Jagran.

He said a team of 15 doctors had been deployed at the Mani Majra hospital, which is in the grip of dengue menace. So far, nearly 100 dengue cases had been reported from Mani Majra alone.

Dr Aggarwal said humid conditions coupled with pleasant temperature provide a congenial condition for the breeding of Aedes egypti mosquitoes.

“We request the residents to clean coolers and do not let water accumulate in tyres and other objects,” said Dr Aggarwal.

Gambusia fish to help check dengue

According to Dr Aggarwal, the Health Department has introduced gambusia fish at 41 points of the city. Gambusia is a species of freshwater fish, also known commonly as mosquito fish, because the diet of this fish sometimes consists of a large number of mosquito larvae. The nodal officer of the UT Heath Department said the department was rearing gambusia fish and residents could collect the fish from the department and introduce it in their ponds.