Phase VII reports 60% of total dengue cases in Mohali district

Sanjay Bumbroo

Tribune News Service

Mohali, September 21

Phase VII in Mohali is the worst-hit by dengue as 60 per cent of the total 174 cases reported from the district during the past three weeks came from the area. The Health Department has swung into action and took samples from the affected areas in the district.

Dr Adarshpal Kaur, Civil Surgeon, confirmed that around 60 per cent of the cases surfaced in Phase VII and the rest from other parts of the district. She said since September 1, they had taken around 640 samples and 174 persons tested positive for dengue.

She said, “We observe Friday as a ‘dry day’ when our teams check for stagnant water in various parts of the district.”

Dr Adarshpal Kaur said they urged residents to take precautions, adding that the aedes aegypti species of mosquito, which causes dengue, “breeds till the end of November”. She said they had cautioned people against water-borne diseases like diarrhoea, cholera, typhoid, Hepatitis A and E during the rainy season and warned them against drinking contaminated water.

The Civil Surgeon said dengue patients had high fever for five to six days and their platelet count could drop after the fever ceased. She said they had asked private hospitals to report suspected or confirmed dengue cases to the Health Department and send suspected samples immediately so that confirmatory tests could be conducted and remedial steps taken on time.

Dengue testing and treatment were available free of cost in government hospitals across the district, she added.

Take precautions: Civil Surgeon

The Civil Surgeon, Dr Adarshpal Kaur, said they had urged residents to take precautions, adding that the aedes aegypti species of mosquito, which causes dengue, “breeds till the end of November”. She said they had cautioned people against water-borne diseases like diarrhoea, cholera, typhoid and Hepatitis A & E and warned them against drinking contaminated water.