Dengue continues to sting, Ludhiana district fourth worst-affected

Nitin Jain

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 23

With not much let-up in daily cases, the dreaded dengue fever, a mosquito-borne viral disease occurring in tropical and subtropical areas, continues to spread, leaving Ludhiana the fourth worst-hit district in the state, the government has confirmed.

State Tally

• 22,161 Confirmed cases
• 58,773 Suspected cases
• 79 Deaths

Worst and least-hit

Mohali continues to be the worst-hit district with a maximum of 3,800 confirmed, 9,378 suspected cases and 37 dengue deaths while Barnala remains the least-hit district with the minimum of 122 confirmed and 1,147 suspected cases and one death due to the disease so far.

OFFICIALSPEAK

The incidence of dengue has seen a decline in November but we are following the 3-T strategy of test, trace and treat all suspected cases. Besides providing free testing and treatment facilities, the government is undertaking research projects on dengue in collaboration with the PGI, Chandigarh. — Hussan Lal, Principal Secy to Chief Minister

Though no fresh dengue death has been reported in the district since October 22, another 25 fresh cases, including 19 local residents and six outsiders tested positive here, took the count of confirmed cases to a record high of 2,654 and suspected 4,383 on Tuesday, the official figures have revealed.

Four deaths due to dengue have been confirmed in Ludhiana so far.

Of the total 2,654 patients testing positive for dengue here till Tuesday, 1,732 belonged to Ludhiana while 922 were from other districts or states. On Tuesday, 11 fresh patients were reported from urban areas, all from Ludhiana city, while eight were from rural areas, including three each from Raikot and Sahnewal and two from Sudhar.

With this, the count of dengue cases in urban areas went up to 1,430 while 302 patients were from villages in the district.

Of the total urban cases, a maximum of 1,282 were from Ludhiana city while 77 were from Khanna and 71 from Jagraon.

Among rural patients, the highest of 51 were from Sahnewal, 50 Koom Kalan, 49 Sudhar, 26 Pakhowal, 24 Sidhwan Bet, 21 Raikot, 20 Manupur, 15 each Malaud and Hathur, 12 Machhiwara, 11 Payal and eight from Samrala.

The trend of the daily cases this month showed that 29 tested positive for dengue on November 1, 38 on November 2, 40 on 3, 17 on 4, 25 on 5, 21 on 6, 14 on 7, 27 on 8, 21 on 9, 25 on 10, 29 on 11, 20 on 12, 18 on 13, 12 on 14, 17 on 15, 19 on 16, 23 on 17, 25 on 18, 19 on 19, 21 on 20, 10 on 21, 15 on 22 and 19 on November 23.

However, the dengue cases were on decline since October 27 when the daily count had touched a record high of 122. Since then the incidence of dengue has been lowering with the district reporting 74 cases on October 28, 63 on October 29, 35 on October 30 and 30 on October 31.

The district-wise data analysed by the Health and Family Welfare Department, a copy of which is available with The Tribune, showed that Mohali continues to be the worst-hit district in the state with a maximum of 3,800 cases and 37 deaths while Barnala remained the least-affected district with a minimum of 122 dengue patients and one death till Tuesday.

Among other districts, Bathinda reported 2,556 patients of the vector-borne disease and six deaths, Muktsar 1,846 cases and six deaths, Hoshiarpur 1,718 cases, Pathankot 1,714 cases and one death, Amritsar 1,689 cases, Patiala 907 cases and one death, Faridkot 827 cases and four deaths, Kapurthala 805 cases and two deaths, Ropar 766 cases and six deaths, Gurdaspur 731 cases, Jalandhar 603 cases and four deaths, Sangrur 515 cases and four deaths, Nawanshahr 485 cases and two deaths, Fatehgarh Sahib 350 cases and one death, Tarn Taran 286 cases, Fazilka 250, Ferozepur 205, Mansa 136 and Moga recorded 126 confirmed dengue patients with no death till Tuesday.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.