Double whammy for Bathinda, Mansa

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, October 4

While the world is grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic, residents of Bathinda and Mansa districts have another reason to worry, as dengue has started spreading its tentacles in these areas.

Even doctors are in a fix, as both dengue and Covid have similar symptoms.

A number of people diagnosed with dengue are undergoing treatment at home only, as they fear hospitals to be a Covid hotspot.

In Bathinda, the dengue awareness drive has been badly hit due to the lack of manpower, as staff was busy performing the Covid-19 duties.

Deputy Commissioner B Srinivasan said: “Dengue cases have started to surface in the district. Municipal Corportaion teams have started conducting fogging opertaions, and our medical teams are busy performing Covid-19 duties. However, we are managing it well.”

Besides Covid patients, now the doctors were also required to deal with dengue cases, said Dr Amrik Singh Sandhu, Civil Surgeon, Bathinda.

Health activist Dr Vitull K Gupta said people should ensure that they don’t have stagnant water anywhere in their houses. Mosquito control work should be ramped up in the city.