84 test positive for dengue across Punjab

ram Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, August 14

With 84 persons testing positive so far this season and over thousands of suspected cases being reported in hospitals, dengue has started to spread its tentacles in the state.

Barnala has been the worst-affected district with 41 cases, followed by Mohali (17), Faridkot (11) and Patiala (7). Punjab was the worst-hit state in the country in 2018.

Epidemiologists say the threat of dengue outbreak has increased manifold this year as heavy dengue larvae have been detected inside homes. “Whenever heavy indoor breeding of dengue larvae is reported, an outbreak is inevitable. It’s impossible to check every household every week as larvae can breed even in a bottle cap,” a health expert said.

He said indoor dengue breeding couldn’t be curbed without active community participation, which was not being reported. “People are not realising the extent of human loss if the outbreak spikes,” he said, adding that temperature with humidity and intermittent rain had already created conducive environment for larva breeding. Dr Anu Chopra, State Nodal Officer, national vector borne disease control programme, said officials had been on high alert ever since massive outbreaks in South East Asia had been reported.

“We have involved various other departments, including the Department of Rural Development and Panchayats, to increase our people outreach. The situation is under control right now and we are fully prepared for any eventuality,” she said.

Dr Sumeet, District Epidemiologist for Patiala, said: “Despite aggressive awareness being spread by the government, there is lack of community participation.”