Dengue larvae found at 242 spots, none challaned

Tribune News Service

Patiala, June 16

Despite detecting dengue larvae at 242 places, the health department is yet to issue even a single challan in this regard. Moreover, according to sources, the numbers are far more than cited by the department.

In fact, last year, after the dengue outbreak deputy commissioner had ordered to lodge an FIR, if any case dengue larvae breeding was found at any place. However, this year, the officials have not even started the challaning.

It is pertinent to mention that Patiala was the worst dengue affected district in the state with around 2434 positive cases. At a time when dengue breeding is at its peak, the challaning, experts believe, can play the role of a deterrent.

Sudesh Pratap Singh, Health officer, Municipal Corporation, said, “We will start sending our officials during the dry day Friday dengue awareness drive and challans will be issued, wherever the dengue larvae would be found.”

However, health department officials claimed the non-seriousness attitude of other stakeholders, especially, the Municipal Corporation, is acting as a hurdle in curbing the spread of the dengue.

Larvae found inside homes

The officials of the health department informed that dengue larvae, in majority of the cases, was found inside the houses. District Epidemiologist, Dr Sumeet Singh said that dengue larvae were found in the desert coolers as people didn’t clean it regularly. “If we don’t dry out the water in the desert coolers once in a week the dengue larvae can start breeding due to low temperature, “he said.

Health experts said the temperature has already touched 45°C– which is not conducive for dengue breeding. For dengue larvae to breed, the temperature should be between 25- 35°C, therefore, major cases dengue breeding were detected indoors.