HEALTH

Alert against dengue in city
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Oct 4 — A “health alert” has been sounded in Ludhiana, following several cases of suspected dengue fever in different parts of the city.

Two cases of suspected dengue have been reported from Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar, while two have been reported from Kitchlu Nagar. Blood samples of patients have been tested in the local Dayanand Medical College and Hospital. The tests show a fall in the platelets, generally regarded as a sign of dengue fever. However, conclusive tests are yet to be carried out.

Dr A.S. Chawla, District Epidemologist, said 27 medical teams had been constituted by the district health authorities under the supervision of the Civil Surgeon, Dr Rajinder Kaur. She has also contacted the Municipal Commissioner of Ludhiana, Dr M.S. Sandhu, who has ordered the publication of more pamphlets that list all precautions in case of dengue fever.

Nearly 30,000 such pamphlets have already been distributed in the city. Defogging operations have begun along with announcements through public-address systems in areas where the risk of the epidemic is high. The staff of all 27 government dispensaries around the city have also been alerted to be on the lookout for persons suffering from dengue fever.

Dr Chawla said the medical teams had been asked to destroy all possible breeding grounds of mosquitoes. Mosquitoes that cause dengue fever breed in clear water. In cities, their favourite breeding ground is water left in coolers, abandoned tyres or old disused washing machines etc.

Anti-adulteration drive in Samrala
From Our Correspondent

SAMRALA, Oct 4 — Talking to pressmen at the local rest house here today, Dr R.C. Garg, District Health Officer, and Mr Manoj Khosla, District Food Inspector, said that out of 141 food samples collected from eateries, 24 samples were found substandard and the cases are pending in courts.

In an anti-adulteration campaign, on the directions of Dr Rajinder Kaur, Civil Surgeon, Ludhiana, a team of doctors raided the premises of shops of eatable in different towns in Ludhiana district and collected 141 samples out of which 24 samples were found substandard and cases are pending in the courts.

According to Dr Garg, the complaints about substandard mineral water were increasing. There were also complaints about substandard mustard oil, leaf tea, glucose, pure ghee, refined oils, icecreams, cold drinks, tobacco, sweets, milk, turmeric and masalas he added.

Dr Garg said that Dr Rajinder Kaur has also directed all restaurants, hotels, dhabas and marriage palace owners to get their employees medically examined and keep their clearance certificates on their premises ready for any check because their employees are often infected with diseases like T B etc which transmit germs of these diseases to their customers. The D H O also declared to intensify anti-adulteration drive in the district, in future also, keeping in view the Divali festival.