5,000 suspected dengue cases in Kotkapura

Balwant Garg

Tribune News Service

Kotkapura, November 3

More than 5,000 suspected cases of dengue have been reported in Kotkapura over the past two weeks. The outbreak has adversely affected attendance in schools and offices.

“I am getting 15-18 new dengue cases daily, all children below 10 years,” said Dr Ravi Bansal, a leading paediatrician here. According to the Health Department, 532 confirmed cases have been recorded in the past fortnight.

Dr Kamaldeep Kaur, district epidemiologist, said dengue had gripped the town in the past three years too, but the situation had worsened this time. “Localities such as Gandhi Basti and Prem Nagar are facing a perennial scarcity of potable water. Most of the houses have tanks to store water supplied by the Water Supply and Sanitation Department. These tanks are usually not covered properly,” she added.

The epidemiologist said dengue larvae had been destroyed at more than 500 places in the town. “We have sent 317 cases to the Municipal Committee to impose a fine on persons not adhering to the rules on the storage of water and disposal of stagnant water in and around their houses,” she said.

The falling attendance of students in schools is an indicator of the state of affairs, said Onkar Nath Goyal, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industries.

The Municipal Committee has one fogging machine, but no funds to fill it with insecticides and fuel. “The Health Department is providing us insecticides. We are doing our best with the available resources,” said Narinder Jindal, executive officer, MC.