Staggered rains in Aug pushes dengue case count to 68 in Panchkula district

Tribune News Service

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Panchkula, August 22

With 68 cases of dengue already recorded this season, Panchkula district is witnessing a hike in infections due to the staggered rains. The urban pockets of Panchkula remain the most affected regions. The district Health Department has written to the DC office and local bodies, seeking prompt preventive measures.

The number of cases has health officials alarmed already. As of Wednesday, the office recorded 23 cases in urban Panchkula, 18 cases from the areas near the DLF colony and Surajpur, 12 cases from Pinjore, 10 from old Panchkula, which includes the Majri chowk area, three from Kalka and one each of the Nanakpur and Kot areas.

Officials said the Health Department had been carrying-out information, education and communication activities to make residents aware of the dengue menace, but the cases were still rising.

An official said, “The number of already recorded cases has gone upward of 68 already. This is a hint that the yearly count could increase fast. This is while the Health Department has been carrying-out awareness drives, teaching people about the importance of keeping their surroundings free of stagnant water. The government has hired 80 people to check mosquito and larvae breeding. These people also conduct door-to-door surveys in previously affected areas.”

Officials said the area of the DLF colony, Old Panchkula, including the area around Majri Chowk and various sectors of Panchkula city were the most affected.

As a matter of fact, the district recorded 689 cases of dengue in 2023, 2,022 cases in 2022, 906 in 2021, 78 in 2020, 33 in 2019 and 143 in 2018. Doctors pointed-out that the numbers of cases of dengue have remained high after 2020.

When contacted, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Mukta Kumar said the department had recorded a high number of cases already. “Currently the humidity is high and the region is witnessing rains in a staggered manner. Such conditions are best suitable for mosquito breeding. Also, rainwater accumulates at places, turning them into breeding sites,” she said. She added, “Our awareness teams are in the field. They are continuously checking larvae breeding and issuing notices.”

She said the department had already communicated with the Municipal Corporation Panchkula, HSVP and other local bodies to spray larvacide in stagnant water and carry-out fogging. She said the same communication was also sent out to the DC. “We will hold an inter-sectoral meeting with various departments on the matter next week,” she said.

On the other hand, the Panchkula MC on Tuesday said it had started fogging activities. A communication from the MC Mayor office also directed residents to be aware of dengue and avoid letting water stagnate around their houses.

It added, “Coolers, pots and other water tanks should be cleaned so that they do not become breeding sites for dengue mosquito. People should clean the areas around their houses thoroughly.” Kulbhushan Goyal said the MC had prepared a complete route-plan for fogging.