Rising dengue cases give doctors the shivers

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 22

The number of dengue cases in the plains of the state has crossed the 1,000 mark. While four cases have been reported from Pauri Garhwal district, in Nainital the number now stands at 55.

The districts of Dehradun and Haridwar are already reeling under the impact of overactive dengue virus.

Doctors in the state are worried due to the detection of positive cases in Pauri Garhwal as the hilly areas do not have many blood banks.

“These districts are not well equipped with blood banks. Blood separators are essential in order to provide platelets to dengue patients who are diagnosed with low platelet count,” said Dr Kusum Nariyal, DG, Health.

In Uttarakhand, there are eight blood separating machines, out of which six are in Dehradun.

To add to the woes of the Department of Health, the districts of Champawat, Bageshwar and Tehri Garhwal do not have any blood banks. However, so far, no case of dengue has been detected at these places.

Further, doctors said the prevailing weather conditions, with intermittent rain, are conducive for the virus to remain active.

“It is unlikely that the dengue virus will subside in the coming days as retreating monsoon is still bringing in rain. Dengue virus usually becomes active in September and October,” said Dr KC Pant, senior consultant at Doon Medical Teaching Hospital.