39 test positive for dengue in Hoshiarpur district

Sanjiv Kumar Bakshi

Hoshiarpur, September 3

As many as 39 persons have tested positive for dengue in the district this year. Most of the cases have been reported from the city.

So far, 630 suspected dengue patients have been admitted to hospitals in the district. Of them, 39 patients have tested positive for dengue.

Of the total 39 patients, 22 are from the city, one from Bhunga, seven from Garhshankar, four from Sham Chaurasi and five from Harta Badla.

However, suspected dengue patients continue to come to hospitals for treatment.

Rumours about the death of a person due to swine flu at the Civil Hospital have caused a panic among residents. But officials of the hospital have clearly stated that the patient died of a respiratory disease. They said the cause of death was not swine flu.

District epidemiologist Dr Manohar Lal told The Tribune that of the 22 dengue cases that have been reported from the city, three are from the Islamabad area.

On being asked about the measures taken to tackle dengue, he said continuous checking was being carried out to destroy mosquito larvae. He said the Health Department was working with the Municipal Corporation, dividing the city into 10 sectors, to tackle dengue.

He said, “We issue warnings to the owners where larvae are found for the first time. We challan them if larvae are found again on the same place. So far, 27 persons have been challaned for the same.”

District swine flu outbreak in-charge Dr Shailesh said no person had been died of swine flu.

On being questioned about the death of a suspected swine flu patient at the local Civil Hospital, he said, “The patient was first admitted to a private hospital for four to five days. Later, he was brought to the Civil Hospital due to a respiratory disorder. There is no confirmation that the patients had tested positive for swine flu. The test for swine flu will be carried out.”