Govt worried as dengue spreads in rural areas

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 10

Considered mainly an urban phenomenon so far, dengue is spreading in rural areas of the state too. The state has no strategy to deal with the outbreak in these areas.

The Health Department is worried as of the 11,573 cases reported this season, around 3,500 are from rural areas. In 2017, about 3,800 cases were reported from villages, about 3,000 in 2016, around 2,700 in 2015 and just 126 in 2014.

The issue was discussed during a meeting of the State Task Force, chaired by Health Minister Brahm Mohindra, recently. The minister observed that in the past dengue cases were not reported from the hinterland, but now these had started coming from rural areas also.

He said since the Rural Development Department did not have any strategy to deal with the dengue cases, the situation could spin out of control.

Now, the government is planning to ask the Rural Development Department to make a comprehensive plan to deal with dengue.

October and November are considered the most crucial months with regard to dengue.

With 15,398 confirmed cases, 2017 was the worst year ever for Punjab on the dengue front. Already 11,500 cases have been reported this season. Last year, till November 10, 12,500 confirmed cases had been reported.