Y.S. RANA , CHANDIGARH—Present dengue epidemic in Chandigarh indicates once-obscure disease has become a great worry for the Chandigarh Administration and lays bare infirmities of public healthcare in the city. The number of dengue cases in the city rose to 457 on Monday. This is more than the number of cases reported in the last four years. The highest number of dengue cases during the last four years was reported in 2012 which was 351. While the city recorded 73 cases in 2011, 13 cases were reported in 2013, the lowest number of cases reported in the last four years.
The Health Department, UT Administration, has intensified measures for prevention and control of dengue by involving Chandigarh NSS Cell in the campaign. Teams of health department and NSS volunteers are conducting surveys across the city and listing out some do’s and don’ts as the disease will strike the city with almost clockwork precision, adding that the department was working hard to prevent the spread of the disease. With a view to minimizing the intensity of disease, fogging operations were carried out in villages, he said.
While talking to Dr Anil Garg, Assistant Director, Malaria and Nodal Officer of the campaign told that so far over 1.25 lakh households have been surveyed in eight days. He further said that large number of larva was found in coolers and containers which amounted for two to three per cent. Maximum dengue larvae cases were found in Sector 46 and Sector 38 (10 per cent) but no case of dengue was reported from Sector 46, he added.
In rural area, Daria has reported maximum cases of larva presence which is five per cent, says Dr Garg. The health department has constituted 75 teams and each team consisting two staff members of the department, revealed he. Dr Garg further said that so far over 1000 notices have issued to the households and over 50 have been challaned for non-serious house owners.
Dr Garg said that their main stress was to aware the public about precautions to be taken. He admitted that campaign has impressive impact on the public. “It is more an urban disease and due to recent heavy rains, in the coming day they expected a spike in dengue cases as they have found number of larvae during survey,” he fears and added that the department was working hard to prevent the spread of the disease.
While talking to Bikram Rana, SLO, Chandigarh NSS Cell, said that over 3000 NSS volunteers were engaged with health department teams for house-to-house inspection in the city. If need arose more volunteers would be put on the job, said he. “Now dengue-causing mosquito even makes inroads in posh buildings as people do not take precautions seriously,” said he.
According to the health department, their workers are now focussing on schools and government offices in the city to prevent the dengue spread. “We are now inspecting government offices and schools in the city,” said Garg. “Everyone has to take care of their building and strict action will be taken against violators,” warns he.
Dr Garg requested the residents of Chandigarh to take the following precautionary measures with regard dengue.
-Drain out water from your coolers at weekly intervals.
-Do not allow water to accumulate containers, cans, tyres, flower pots.
-Do not allow water to collect in an around your houses.
-Do not throw junk material and water holding containers on the roof top.
-Cover your overhead tanks on the rooftops.
-Wear full-sleeved clothes in the evening especially.
-For fever immediately report to nearest dispensary/hospital.