Dengue on decline, Ludhiana remains fourth worst-hit district

Nitin Jain

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 21

Even as daily cases of dreaded dengue fever, a mosquito-borne viral disease occurring in tropical and subtropical areas, have started receding, Ludhiana continues to remain the fourth worst-hit district in the state, the government has confirmed.

Only two fresh positive cases were reported in the entire state on Tuesday and both were from Kapurthala, said state programme officer for the National Vector-Borne Diseases Control Programme (NVBDCP) Gagandeep Singh Grover.

OfficialSpeak

Even as the incidence of dengue continues to be on decline since November, we have asked all districts to keep aggressively following the 3-T strategy of test, trace and treat all suspected cases. We are providing free testing and treatment facilities at public health centres, besides undertaking research projects in collaboration with PGI, Chandigarh. Hussan Lal, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister

While no fresh dengue death was reported in the district since October 22, no positive case was reported here on Tuesday, keeping the tally of confirmed cases static at 2,862 and suspected 4,713, the official figures have revealed. Four deaths due to dengue have been confirmed in Ludhiana so far.

Of the total 2,862 patients testing positive for dengue here till Tuesday, 1,829 belonged to Ludhiana while 1,033 were from other districts or states.

While a single dengue patient was reported here on Monday, no positive case was reported in the district on Sunday, Saturday and Friday. On Thursday also, only a single patient had tested positive for the vector-borne disease.

Of the total dengue cases recorded in the district so far, 1,507 were from urban areas while 322 reported from rural areas.

Among the urban patients, a maximum of 1,346 were from Ludhiana city followed by 89 in Khanna and 72 in Jagraon.

The rural cases included the highest of 54 from Sahnewal followed by 53 in Koom Kalan, 52 in Sudhar, 27 in Pakhowal, 26 in Sidhwan Bet, 23 in Manupur, 22 in Raikot, 16 in Malaud, 15 in Hathur, 14 in Machhiwara, 12 in Payal and a minimum of 8 in Samrala.

The dengue cases were on the decline in the district since October 27 when the daily count had touched a record high of 122. Since then the incidence of dengue has been lowering with each passing day.

The districts, which were ahead of Ludhiana, included Mohali on the top, followed by Bathinda and Muktsar.

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 3,945 confirmed and 10,193 suspected cases while Barnala remained the least-hit district with a minimum of 127 confirmed and 1,190 suspected dengue patients so far.

Among other districts, Bathinda reported 2,621 patients of vector-borne disease and three deaths, Muktsar 2,031 cases and one death, Hoshiarpur 1,729 cases, Pathankot 1,728 cases, Amritsar 1,687 cases, Patiala 1,020 cases and one death, Faridkot 982 cases and two deaths, Kapurthala 869 cases, Ropar 774 cases and two deaths, Gurdaspur 750 cases, Jalandhar 647 cases, Sangrur 523 cases, Nawanshahr 503 cases, Fatehgarh Sahib 376 cases, Tarn Taran 308 cases, Fazilka 273 cases, Ferozepur 251 cases, Mansa 159 cases and Moga recorded 136 confirmed dengue patients with no death so far.

Deaths down

Following examination of all 77 suspected dengue deaths reported in the state, only 13 such casualties were confirmed to be caused due to the vector-borne disease so far.

State Tally

23,268 Confirmed cases

63,429 Suspected cases

13 Deaths

Worst and least-hit

Mohali continues to be the worst-hit district with a maximum of 3,945 confirmed and 10,193 suspected cases, while Barnala remains the least-hit district with the minimum of 127 confirmed and 1,190 suspected cases.