Dengue cases cross 2,400 in Haryana

Geetanjali Gayatri

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 19

After remaining below the 2,000-mark for three consecutive years, dengue cases in Haryana crossed 2,400 today. The number of patients testing positive has shown no signs of abating.

Panchkula on top

• The most-affected districts in the state include Panchkula with 315 cases, Sirsa with 264 cases, Gurugram with 180 cases, Nuh with 175, Faridabad with 169, Sonepat with 163 and Fatehabad with 156 cases
• The remaining 15 districts have cases less than 100 while Karnal (38) and Panipat (39) have the least number of cases so far

From 1,377 cases reported last year, the number of dengue patients has nearly doubled this year and stands at 2,427 this year. However, in recent years, the highest number of patients (9,921) and 13 deaths were reported in 2015. So far, there has been no death due to dengue this season.

The most-affected districts in the state include Panchkula with 315 cases, Sirsa with 264 cases, Gurugram with 180 cases, Nuh with 175, Faridabad with 169, Sonepat with 163 and Fatehabad with 156 cases. The remaining 15 districts have cases less than 100 while Karnal (38) and Panipat (39) have the least number of cases so far.

While 177 patients are still admitted to government or private hospitals, 179 new cases were reported today of whom 66 patients were admitted today.

All hospitals, government and private, have been asked to draw up a list of blood donors of all blood groups. “We held a video-conference of all civil surgeons and told them that no death should happen because of shortage of platelets. While platelets are being administered free of cost in government hospitals, we have asked the civil surgeons to procure these, if need be, from private hospitals. The hospital will be reimbursed the charges,” Director, Vector-borne diseases, Dr Usha Gupta, explained.

Stating that the Centre had already warned the states that there could be a spurt in the number of dengue and H1N1 influenza cases this season, Gupta said that the spurt in dengue cases is not just limited to Haryana but Punjab and Chandigarh have also seen a rise in the total number of cases being reported.

She added that intermittent rain over an unusually long period resulted in creation of tiny puddles of water, leading to the spurt in dengue cases.

Sources maintained that the staff, especially ANMs and multipurpose workers (male), were also diverted to the immunisation programme, resulting in shortage of manpower.

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