Ludhiana: Dengue cases continue to be reported from the district even as the number has reached 429. The number of malaria cases in the district in the ongoing season is also more than last year’s.
As per a health department report, the number of dengue cases in Ludhiana district this year from Jan 1 to Nov 23, was 429 of which six cases were reported on Saturday.The data suggests that the total number of dengue cases in the district was around 257 till October 31, so in ongoing Nov month about 172 cases were reported in Ludhiana, which is 40% of the total cases in going season.
Meanwhile as per the report of November 23, of the 429 dengue cases, 259 cases were reported from urban areas of the district whereas 170 are from rural areas. Of the urban areas, Ludhiana city has 245 cases, Khanna has 13 whereas one case was reported from Jagraon.
As per the report, among various blocks in rural areas, Sahnewal had 43 cases, Koom Kalan had 31, and Sudhar 27. The report suggests that of the 12 blocks, Raikot, and Hathur had just one case each.
Meanwhile, 21 confirmed cases of dengue were admitted in private hospitals of Ludhiana. However around two weeks ago, the number of patients admitted in private hospitals in the district were 36 on Nov 6.
District epidemiologist Dr. Sheetal Narang said they had taken measures to check vector-borne diseases like dengue and malaria. She added that 18 teams had been constituted for Ludhiana city to check the diseases whereas there are about 230 teams comprising multi-purpose healthcare workers, auxiliary nurse and midwife (ANM), breeding checker, ASHA worker, in the rural areas.
Health officials said there were 100 breeding checkers, 50 each in Ludhiana city and in rural areas of the district, to check vector-borne diseases. They added that besides carrying out house-to-house checking, the breeding checkers destroy mosquito larvae, apart from creating awareness among the people about the vector borne diseases.
Meanwhile, Ludhiana civil surgeon Dr Pardeep Kumar Mohindra suggested that the season of vector-borne diseases was not over and people needed to be cautious. He added that they should not allow water to stand in containers and maintain cleanliness, besides wearing full sleeves clothes.
The civil surgeon said in case a person had high-grade fever, body aches and pain behind eyes, they should get tested and the test was free at the Ludhiana civil hospital, sub-divisional hospitals in Jagraon and Khanna. He added that if a person needed assistance regarding vector-borne diseases, he could contact on the helpline 0161-2444193.
The officials further said that every Friday was being observed as a dry day as part of the ‘Har shukarwar dengue par waar’ campaign wherein vases and flower pots would not be watered to break the cycle of mosquito breeding.
As per the latest health department reports, 28 cases of malaria have been reported in the district till now, which is higher than the total cases reported last year when 24 cases were reported in Ludhiana.
Former Ludhiana IMA president Dr Narottam Dewan said it seemed that the mosquito had become cold resistant as some cases were being reported even now. He also advised the people to be cautious and fully cover the body, including wearing of socks and gloves, besides having nutritious and balanced diet for proper immunity.
Dr Dewan advised that the people can also use mosquito repellants indoors to protect themselves from being bitten.