Tricity in grip of dengue fever

The cases of dengue are on the rise in Chandigarh and the adjoining cities of Mohali and Panchkula. Nearly 2,000 persons have already tested positive for the vector-borne disease.

Each government hospital in the tricity is daily witnessing an average 100 patients complaining of high fever, body ache and other dengue-like symptoms. Panchkula has already hit the 1,000 mark in the case count while Mohali has seen 923 persons suffering from dengue so far this season. The city has recorded the lowest number of dengue patients. Till today, 153 city residents have tested positive for dengue.

Sting tracker

Chandigarh 153

Mohali 923

Panchkula 1,ooo+

There are not enough beds in the city government hospitals to accommodate so many patients suffering from dengue. Only severe cases are being given priority at the PGIMER, Government Multi-Speciality Hospital (GMSH) in Sector 16 and the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Sector 32.

A resident doctor at the GMCH-32 said the second floor of the Emergency was full, with 60-70% patients suffering from dengue, and they had to extend the service on the third floor of the hospital as well. People were not able to get wheelchairs for their sick family members, let alone a room or stretcher.

Dr Varsha Gupta, Head of Microbiology Department, GMCH-32, said, “As many as 5,604 samples were tested for dengue from September 1 till October 15 and 1,108 were reported positive.” Among those tested positive were people who were not residents of the city.

At the PGIMER, 298 positive cases of dengue were reported by October 22.

Prof PVM Lakshmi of Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGI, shared, “The number of dengue cases is increasing. This is season-based. Post monsoon and during monsoon, conditions are favourable for breeding of mosquitoes. Thus, the cases of dengue and other vector-borne diseases is bound to increase.”

Even in private hospitals, people were forced to make arrangements of platelets for their loved ones suffering from dengue. For those who were not able to get it from the hospital’s Blood Bank were trying to reach out to donors with matching blood group on the social media.

In the past 20 days, about 70 city residents have tested positive for dengue. The whole month of September had seen 12 cases of dengue. The total cases since January 1 this year aggregated to around 150, said Dr Suman Singh, Director, Health Services, UT.

It may be noted that even as patients from the city’s vicinity come to government hospitals in the UT for treatment, only data pertaining to Chandigarh residents is entered in the UT Health Department’s records.

How to stay safe

• Remove water collected in coolers, open water tanks and containers.
• Use mosquito screens for doors and windows at house or office.
• Protect body by wearing full-sleeved clothes and trousers/long pants
• Maintain general cleanliness in and around schools, homes and offices