Alarm bells ringing:194 dengue cases in 2 weeks in district

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 24

The number of dengue cases is rapidly increasing in the district as 194 confirmed cases have been recorded by the Health Department in the past two weeks.

A total of 309 confirmed cases and 524 suspected cases of dengue have been reported in the district this year till Monday. According to the Health Department, cases are mostly being reported from the areas on Chandigarh Road in Ludhiana. These include 33-foot Road, GTB Nagar, Mundian Kalan, Guru Nanak Nagar, GK Estate, Jamalpur, Sectors 32 and 39. There are chances that the number of dengue cases could be higher than official reports, say residents.

The department had recorded 31 confirmed dengue cases till September 22 and 115 cases till October 10 in these places. Apart from these cases, as many as 10 confirmed cases of chikungunya, which is also spread by bite of infected aedes mosquitoes, have been reported here this year.

Health team finds mosquito larvae in 438 containers

Health Inspector Manpreet Singh said they had found larvae of aedes mosquito, which causes dengue, in 438 containers in different parts of the city. These larvae were mainly found in houses at Azad Nagar, New Moti Nagar, Jamalpur, Dashmesh Nagar, Model Town, GK Estate, 33-foot Road, Moti Nagar, Jain Colony, Giaspura and BRS Nagar.

Another health inspector, Satinder Singh said: “Larvae were generally found in coolers, pots and other uncovered containers. We are creating awareness among residents against allowing water to accumulate near their houses.”

MC issues 400 challans

“Fogging is done every third day in city areas while special fogging drives are conducted in the dengue-affected areas. We have issued more than 400 challans to residents after finding larvae of mosquitoes on their properties. As some cases of dengue were reported from rural areas, we can’t conduct fogging in rural areas outside the MC jurisdiction.” A health officer of the Municipal Corporation, Dr Vipul Malhotra

District Epidemiologist Ramesh Bhagat said the Health Department was creating awareness among the public by giving lectures at public places and schools, distributing pamphlets, pasting posters and by making announcements through gurdwaras, temples and churches.

No proper fogging, say residents

Though the Municipal Corporation (MC) has made tall claims of carrying out special fogging drives, the residents in the dengue-affected areas said fogging was not being done properly.

I was admitted to a private hospital where doctors told me that I was suffering from chikungunya. The MC workers conduct fogging in our area only when people have taken ill. A team of the Health Department visited my house. It could be better if the authorities had taken preventive measures earlier. — Amarjit Singh, Mundian Kalan

Many people are falling ill but fogging is not being done properly. The civic body should step up fogging to control breeding of mosquitoes. — Gurnam Singh Fauji, New GTB Nagar on Chandigarh Road

The number of dengue cases is rapidly increasing here but no concrete measures have been taken to prevent the spread of the disease. I have not witnessed any fogging here. — Sarbjeet Singh, resident of 33-foot Road 

Situation better this year: Civil Surgeon

As many as 309 dengue cases were reported from January to October 23 this year whereas around 650 cases were reported during the same period last year. We created awareness on prevention of dengue and chikungunya. Fogging is also being carried out by the MC staff timely. There is no panic-like situation. The people should not consider viral fever as dengue. — Hardeep Singh, Ludhiana Civil Surgeon