With 12,700 dengue cases this year, state worst-hit in nation

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 17

Though cases of dengue have started declining in the state, but with over 12,000 cases, Punjab is one of the worst-affected states in the country. Delhi tops with 15,000 cases.

Health Department officials say a total of 12,700 cases of dengue were reported till Tuesday. Sources say the state Health Department is also holding a state-level review meeting to assess the situation.

Health Department officials said the cases of dengue were on a decline in the state. If earlier 300 to 400 cases of dengue were being reported every day, the number has come down to 100 now.

According to parasitology experts, cases of dengue are likely to come for another fortnight. Earlier, health experts were expecting that dengue cases would stop coming by mid-November, but the maximum temperature has remained above 25 degrees Celsius, which is conducive for mosquito breeding. “The night temperature is fine but the day temperature has not come down. Once it will come down to 18 degrees Celsius, the cases will decline considerably,” said Dr Rakesh Sehgal, head, parasitology department, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh.

In the past one decade, the highest-ever dengue cases before this in Punjab were reported in 2008 with 4,300 cases.