Follow Us
Harshraj Singh
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, October 28
After the death of two girls due to dengue at New Durga Colony of Dhandari Khurd in Ward No. 28 last week, teams of the Health Department are carrying out a survey and creating awareness in the area. The Health Department, however, has not confirmed any dengue death till date.
The teams started a major drive for checking the spread of vector-borne and water-borne diseases. Fogging was carried out in the streets and plots of the area to kill mosquitoes and larvae in accumulated water. District Epidemiologist Dr Ramesh Bhagat said, “Fogging was carried out by the Health Department on Sunday and Monday also at New Durga Colony. Our teams are visiting the area and educating people regarding vector-borne and water-borne diseases.”
As many as 228 dengue cases have been reported in Ludhiana district till October 26. Civil Surgeon Dr Rajesh Kumar Bagga said, “The Health Department is committed to making Ludhiana district free of dengue, chikungunya and other vector-borne diseases. While issuing an advisory on this regard, Dr Bagga asked Health Department officials to intensify the drive for checking the spread of these vector-borne diseases in the district.
He said vulnerable places for producing the larva of mosquitoes must be identified and action must be taken immediately. The Civil Surgeon said besides the checking drive, people must be made aware of the breeding ground of mosquitoes, including air-coolers, old/worn out utensils etc.
Dengue symptoms and treatment
Dr Bagga said, “Dengue is being transmitted by the bite of Aedes mosquito which usually targets in the daytime. Severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscles and joint pains are symptoms of the disease. Any person having these symptoms should have only paracetamol tablets and consult the doctor immediately.” He informed that tests of dengue fever were conducted free of cost at the Civil Hospital, Ludhiana, and the Civil Hospital, Khanna. He said private doctors perform card test, which was not approved by the Centre. He stated that if any person had dengue like symptoms, he/she should get tests done at the above mentioned civil hospitals.
Preventive measures
Aedes mosquito breeds in desert coolers, water storage containers, tyres, overhead tanks and many more places where rainwater collects or is stored. The civil surgeon said people must be educated to keep all water storage containers covered, besides old tyres, broken pots, crockery should be removed. He appealed to residents to cover their body properly while going out in open. He stressed that school-going children should wear full sleeve shirts only and should restrict themselves from visiting parks etc. He stated that every Friday of the week should be observed as “Dry Day” so that we can save ourselves from diseases such as dengue, chikungunya etc. For any information related to these diseases, one can contact District Epidemiologist Dr Rajesh Kumar at 98557-16180.
Residents at New Durga Colony and adjoining areas are worried after the death of a 10-year-old girl on October 25 and four-year-old girl on October 21. According to the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, 10-year-old girl was diagnosed with severe dengue. Besides, in death case of four-year-old girl, PGIMER, Chandigarh, had stated in a report that the cause of her death was dengue shock syndrome. However, the Health Department claimed that they have not received the reports from the hospitals concerned.
4
7
9