Patiala sees 29 fresh dengue cases

Tribune News Service

Patiala, November 22

The deadly dengue continues to sting Patiala as 29 fresh cases were reported on Monday. The Health Department, however, clarified that the spike in positive cases was the result of delayed reporting by various blocks of the district.

The delay in reporting is said to have been caused by the ongoing strike of the health staff. “The number of positive cases reported on Monday was the pileup of the past five days’ samples,’’ the department said.

With today’s cases, the tally of dengue cases in the district has risen to 932 this season. Of 932, Patiala city alone has reported 50 per cent of the total dengue cases in the district. As per the analysis of the positive cases, 460 have been reported from Patiala city, 90 from Nabha town and 80 from Harpalpur, a rural block, of the district.

Officials of the Health Department said the majority of the dengue cases, 68 per cent, had been reported from urban areas.

Dr Sumeet Singh, district epidemiologist, said, “The district has witnessed a dip in average daily cases. Today’s rise is due to delayed reporting. Dengue cases have started to decline in the district. However, people shouldn’t lower their guard, use mosquito repellents and wear full sleeve clothes.”

He said that cases would decline further by the end of this month due to dip in average daily temperature.