In Ambala, dengue count reaches 470

Nitish Sharma

Tribune News Service

Ambala, October 26

With four persons testing positive for dengue on Monday, the count has jumped to 470 in the district. Besides, 90 cases of malaria and 67 of chikungunya have been reported. At present, 25 patients are under treatment in Civil Hospital’s dengue ward. Of them, eight are down with viral fever. Of 470 cases, 128 have been reported from Lal Kurti in Ambala Cantonment and 46 from Baldev Nagar in Ambala City.

A Health Department official claimed stagnation of water, poor sanitation and lack of intensive fogging were the factors behind the outbreak of dengue.

Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Vinod Gupta said, “The department conducted mass surveys in worst-affected localities. As a result, several dengue cases came to light. The department sprayed anti-larvae spray and indoor residual spray to stop its spread.”

According to the Health Department, 552 cases of dengue and 112 of malaria were reported in Ambala last year. In 2014, 10 people tested positive for dengue and 79 for malaria. In 2013, 67 people were tested positive for dengue and 485 for malaria.

The CMO said, “There is panic among the people. Unreliable rapid card test by private hospitals and pathological labs have fuelled the panic. The National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme says NS1 Elisa test is reliable for confirming dengue. After five days of fever, IGM Elisa test is conducted. The tests are conducted at the Civil Hospital free of cost.”

“The number of new cases has dipped. We are hopeful fresh cases will stop in 15 to 20 days. No death has been reported in the district due to dengue, malaria and chikungunya this year,” he added.