Dengue suspected in 38 deaths this year

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, November 19

Dengue took a heavy toll on the lives of people in the state this season.

According to the data furnished by the Health Department, Punjab, 38 deaths, suspected to have taken place due to dengue, have been reported in the state this year. However, the Dengue Death Review Committee would review these 38 cases on November 22.

The committee will have experts from the PGI, Chandigarh, and the Medical Council of India.

Out of the 38 deaths, Patiala, Mohali and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar were the worst affected with five suspected cases from each district.

In the last season, the number of suspected deaths from the virus was 54 in the state. Out of these, only 18 were found to be confirmed cases of dengue during the audit of the suspected deaths.

An official, on the condition of anonymity, said, “We have received the reports of only 17 suspected deaths from the district health departments so far. We will be soon conducting a review meeting to analyse the real cause of death in all these cases.”

Jaspal Kaur, Director, Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, could not be contacted despite repeated attempts. 

13K cases in state

According to the Health Department, as many as 13,035 cases of dengue have been recorded this season so far.