Dengue count reaches 43 with8 more cases

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 31

With eight new dengue cases reported in the city here today, the count of dengue patients in the district has reached 43. Out of the eight patients reported today, four belong to the walled city area, which is reporting the maximum number of dengue patients in the current season.

The district epidemiologist, Dr Madan Mohan, said a total of 92 suspected dengue patients have reported at various government and private hospitals till today. He said diagnostic tests conducted at various laboratories have confirmed 43 positive cases.

He stated that 25 of the positive cases have already been cured and discharged by hospitals. “The maximum number of dengue cases have been reported from the walled city areas. We have recommended fogging to the Municipal Corporation authorities in these areas,” said Dr Mohan.

He said as per the procedure, the Health Department is conducting fogging in the localities from where dengue patients are reported. “We conduct fogging in around 100 homes in the neighbourhood of the positive cases. But the need of the hour is that the fogging is conducted in the entire city,” said Dr Mohan. He said the Health Department has only one hand-held fogging machine.

“The MC had been conducting fogging in entire city earlier as it has vehicle-mounted fogging machines,” he said. However, the MC has not initiated fogging in the city so far even as it has kept a provision for buying medicines in its annual budget.

The health authorities stated that they have issued instructions to all private hospitals to immediately inform them about the arrival of suspected dengue patients. “We also advise people to drain out standing water near their homes and use mosquito repellents to save them from mosquito bites,” said the Dr Mohan.