Health officials gear up as dengue cases see rapid rise in Patiala

Tribune News Service
Patiala, October 29

Despite a rapid increase in the number of dengue cases, the number of challans issued by the Municipal Corporation and councils has been low in Patiala district. The matter was discussed at a district-level meeting organised by the ADC (General) today.

Officials said the departments had been directed to step up efforts against the menace.

The Health Department, Patiala, had checked for dengue larvae at 5.15 lakh spots, including residential and commercial places. Of these, larvae were identified and destroyed at over 2,903 places, said Civil Surgeon Harish Malhotra.

As many as 173 dengue cases have already been reported this year against 94 in 2019. Of these, over 115 dengue cases have been reported in October alone. Now, the Patiala city area and Rajpura have been designated as high-risk areas.

Officials in the Municipal Corporation on Wednesday said they had issued 47 challans till now. At the same time, the number of challans issued by the Municipal Council, Rajpura, stands at seven. The Sanaur Municipal Council would begin fogging and issuance of challans from tomorrow, SDM Charanjit Singh said.

In today’s meeting, the departments were directed to step up efforts in the regard.

SDM Charanjit Singh said his office was also writing to various BDPOs of the Rural Development and Panchayat Department. He said: “We are directing them to step up efforts towards the same and carry out fogging and other necessary drives in villages as well. The DC will hold a review meeting with department heads after 10 days.”

Sources said officials of the MC had not been joining the Health Department officials for larvae checking. MC Commissioner Poonamdeep Kaur said the MC was executing its role of fogging and larvicide spraying.

“The work of issuing challans falls under the ambit of the Health Department. We make a roaster of areas to be covered for fogging everyday. Though the checking is on, it is affected by Covid-19,” she said.