State may see surge in vector-borne diseases: Experts

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 20

With the state prone to vector-borne diseases, this year, it seems, is likely to be a bad one again as there may be a sudden increase in the cases after the floods.

According to the latest report prepared by the Health Department, the cases of vector-borne diseases have already started coming to the hospitals. So far, a total of 117 confirmed cases of dengue and around 500 malaria cases have already been reported. Besides, several chikungunya cases have also surfaced. 

However, health experts feel that since the state has already been badly hit by the floods, so it provides conducive conditions for mosquito breeding.

Dr Rakesh Sehgal, head, Department of Parasitology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, said floods often leave behind a lot of water, which becomes a fertile ground for mosquito breeding.

Even the World Health Organisation says that floods can potentially increase the transmission of the vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue and dengue haemorrhagic fever, yellow fever, and West Nile fever.

Even under normal circumstances, Punjab is one of the worst-affected states in the country. Also, 2018 proved as one of the worst years when it comes to dengue as more than 15,000 cases were reported.

Also, in the last meeting of the Task Force held in June this year, Health Minister Balbir Sidhu had emphasised that special attention should be paid towards the areas affected during the previous years, besides going in for fogging in a fixed time-frame after formulating micro-plans through the coordination of various teams of the Health and Local Bodies and Rural Development Departments.

In the past years, the Health Department has always lambasted the Local Bodies and Rural Development Departments for not cooperating in dengue-control efforts.