At 8,600, dengue cases in Punjab up three times this year

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 17

Dengue cases in the state are heading towards an unprecedented spike this year, as 8,600 cases have been reported so far, which is almost three times the figure reported in the corresponding period last year.

Only 3,200 cases surfaced till mid-October last year. The situation this time is alarming because the number of cases is doubling in just one week.

According to data compiled by the Health Department, the state has reported 8,597 cases, while 12 persons have died due to the vector-borne disease.

Door-to-door survey launched in Abohar

• The Health Department, with the help of the Abohar Municipal Corporation, launched a door-to-door campaign on Sunday to check mosquito breeding in houses
• At a meeting with multipurpose workers, ANMs, ASHA and MC staff, SMO Dr Gagandeep Singh said: “Of the 118 samples taken last week, 26 tested positive for dengue.”
• The disease control teams have been increased from 25 to 33. The teams will carry door-to-door surveys and take samples of families if larvae are detected in their homes. OC

In all, four districts have reported more than 1,000 cases. Bathinda tops the chart with 1,414 cases, followed by Mohali (1,264), Hoshiarpur (1,099) and Amritsar (1,019). Pathankot has reported 955 cases.

Experts say the prolonged monsoon, which is a conducive atmosphere for mosquitoes to breed, can make the situation worse. They apprehend that cases may continue to rise till November-end. Last year, the state had reported 8,435 cases and 22 deaths.

Deputy Chief Minister Om Parkash Soni has asked senior officials of the department to visit districts allotted to them at least twice a week and review steps taken for the prevention of dengue.