Rising dengue cases in district put health authorities on toes

Our Correspondent

Patiala, August 31

The rise in the number of dengue cases across the district due to the favourable conditions for the breeding of mosquitoes has become a cause of concern not only for local residents but also for the district health authorities.

As many as 13 confirmed cases were reported in the district during the past couple of weeks. The Health Department in the district has been geared up to tackle the menace.

The department has already observed July as an ‘anti-dengue’ month across the district. It had also observed June as an ‘anti-malaria’ month. Various awareness activities are being organised by the department on a regular basis to make the residents aware of the vector-borne diseases. The department had also held a massive drive of almost 40,000 houses to check dry-day activities.

Gambusia fish is also being released in ponds and drains, which controls the spread of malaria, in both rural and urban areas.

Health Department officials have released the fish in as many as 180 ponds across the district and around 100 other water bodies have also been identified to release the fish.

The Civil Surgeon, Patiala, Balwinder Singh, said they were regularly making the residents aware of the vector-borne diseases to prevent breeding of mosquitoes as awareness could protect people from these ailments.

“The department has identified various areas in the district which had regular incidences of malaria and these high-risk areas had been selected for prolonged spraying activities,” he said.

Talking about dengue symptoms, Dr Gurmeet Singh, district epidemiologist, said, dengue was a viral disease which was caused by tiger mosquito, which breeds in clean water and if anybody having symptoms like high-grade fever, headache, pain in eyes, muscular pain, nausea, skin rash, fatigue and bleeding, he must visit a doctor for treatment.

He said the dengue test was done free of cost at government health institutions.

The epidemiologist appealed to people and Education Department officials to tell students that they should wear full sleeves clothes and socks while coming to schools to prevent themselves from mosquitoes.

He said during mass fogging, doors and windows of houses should be kept open so that the insecticide can reach inner parts of houses properly.

On the occasion, Health Department officials were honoured for tackling malaria and dengue.

Dengue cases in recent years

Year   Cases Deaths

2011     22            0

2012    29            0

2013    672    1

2014    22            0

2015   1,755    1

2016   1,343    2

2017    13           0

13 cases so far

As many as 13 confirmed cases were reported in the district during the past couple of weeks. The Health Department has already observed July as an ‘anti-dengue’ month across the district.