20-yr-old latest victim of dengue virus in Zirakpur

Satinder Pal Singh

Zirakpur, August 8

The health authorities swung into action after the detection of a dengue case from Zirakpur.

The step has been taken after a 20-year-old youth, a resident of Golden Enclave, Zirakpur, who was undergoing treatment for fever, tested positive for dengue. The patient, who was admitted to Indus Hospital in Mohali on August 3, has been discharged from the hospital following recovery, it has been learnt.

According to sources, as many as three dengue cases have been reported from Zirakpur in the past two months, but all of them have recovered.

Rita Bhardwaj, Civil Surgeon, Mohali, confirmed about the recent dengue case in the city and said the Health Department team had already started taking measures to check the spread of dengue.

According to sources, Ramanpreet Singh (20) started showing dengue symptoms on July 31 and was admitted to Indus Hospital in Mohali on August 3 with the complaint of high fever and vomiting. Doctors at the hospital carried out his blood test.

In the blood test report, they found the presence of dengue virus following which they informed the District Health Authorities about the same. The department took blood samples of the patient to get the same tested at a government hospital in Mohali. His blood samples tested positive, said the sources.

The Civil Surgeon said: “The Health Department has formed different teams to conduct a door-to-door survey to check breeding of dengue larvae”.

She said people had been advised not to allow accumulation of water near their residences, wear protective clothing, use mosquito repellent creams and cover open holes, spaces to prevent breeding of mosquitoes.

Mosquito larvae found at patient’s house

As part of its ongoing drive against vector-borne diseases, the health team found mosquito larvae from the house of 20-year-old Ramanpreet Singh who tested positive for dengue virus at Indus Hospital, Mohali. During the drive, the team also checked around 100 houses and sprinkled medicine to prevent further breeding of mosquitoes. The drive was planned following inputs that stagnant water in air coolers is turning into a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Door-to-door survey

}The Health Department team has already started taking measures to check the spread of dengue. The department has formed different teams to conduct a door-to-door survey to check breeding of dengue larvae. — Rita Bhardwaj, Civil Surgeon, Mohali

Three cases reported in past 2 months

As many as three dengue cases have been reported from Zirakpur in the past two months, but all of patients have recovered.