Officials step up drive to prevent cases of dengue, chikungunya in Amritsar

The Health Department seems to be adopting an all hands on the deck approach while dealing with dengue/chikungunya this year. Taking a cue from last year’s chikungunya outbreak, officials of the Health Department have constituted 15 teams to counter and check the spread of larvae for disease control.

Civil Surgeon Dr Kirandeep Kaur said this year, the number of reported cases is significantly less than last year. “We reported 66 cases of dengue and 28 cases of chikungunya this year, while there are no active cases. There is also no cluster of cases this time like last year, when the district had reported 651 instances of of dengue/chikungunya. We are also carrying out extensive inspection of houses and commercial buildings, creating awareness regarding spread of diseases and larvae control. 360 challans have been issued to the offenders,” said the Civil Surgeon.

People were being made aware with the campaign being led by District Epidemiologist Dr Harjot Kaur. “15 teams of Health Department officials are active in urban centres while we have hired 120 breeding checkers, people who check breeding of mosquitoes through door-to-door inspection in rural areas as well. Awareness drives are being carried out in different areas of the city including Naraingarh, Chheharta, Putlighar, Batala Road, Majitha Road and Jahajgarh. In addition, 15 teams of anti-larvae squad went to about 285 houses in the entire area and made people aware about dengue/chikungunya larvae today,” she informed.

Meanwhile, anti-larvae activities were conducted by Health Department teams and students of nursing colleges by going to different houses. Larvae found in containers from about eight houses were destroyed on the spot. Apart from this, a fever survey was also conducted from these areas and blood samples taken from patients experiencing fever. Along with this, black oil was found in stagnant water at many places, where spraying and fogging was done.

Civil Surgeon Dr Kirandeep Kaur said that the Health Department is alert and dengue wards have been prepared across the district as a preventive measure. “Dengue wards have been established in Civil Hospital, Amritsar, at the sub-divisional hospital and also at block level. The anti-larvae wing is visiting different parts of the city, especially the hot spots and carrying out anti-larvae activities. Apart from this, all private hospitals and laboratories have been informed to report any case.”