Temperature dips, but no let-up in dengue cases
Despite the drop in temperature, there is no let-up in the spread of dengue in Sonepat and Panipat districts. The total count of dengue cases in this season so far has reached 455 in Sonepat and 291 in Panipat.
As many as 200 cases have been recorded in the last 20 days within Sonepat. The district had recorded 260 dengue cases till November 4, while the count had reached 455 till Friday evening.
As per the available data, Sonepat recorded a total of 54 dengue cases in 2017, 22 cases in 2018, 12 cases in 2019, 15 cases in 2020, but its highest count of 1,013 cases in 2021.
The district recorded a significant drop in dengue cases to 315 in 2022. With a minor increase in the tally, Sonepat recorded 335 cases in 2023, however, this time the district has already reached the second highest number of dengue cases in the last eight years, as the count reached 455 till Friday.
Panipat recorded two more cases of dengue on Friday, taking the total count to 291 cases. The district has witnessed a total of 68 cases in the last 15 days.
As per the available record, Panipat witnessed its highest number of dengue patients in the recent times in 2017, when 469 patients were diagnosed with the vector-borne disease. A total of 133 dengue cases were recorded in 2018, while there were only four cases in 2019. The district again recorded 272 cases in 2020, 287 cases in 2021, 296 dengue cases in 2022, while 335 dengue cases were confirmed in 2023.
This year, the number of dengue patients is less than the previous year, but the count still remains worrisome.
Dr Sunil Sanduja, Deputy Civil Surgeon and Nodal officer for Dengue and Malaria, said that with two confirmed cases, the number of patients reached 291 this year. Six cases of Chikungunya have also been reported in the district so far.
Weather conditions are being attributed as the primary reason behind the spread of dengue cases up to last week of November.
The rain started and ended very late this year, due to which dengue cases started spreading very late this year and till all adult mosquitoes do not die, the spread would continue, Dr Sanduja said. He added that the temperature has started dipping and so should the count of dengue cases in the coming days.
Ensure effective fogging: Minister
- Health Minister has directed officials to ensure effective fogging in urban and peri-urban areas in the state
- Taking stringent note of the spread of dengue cases in the state, Health Minister Arti Singh Rao also wrote a letter to Vipul Goel, Minister for Urban Local Bodies to strengthen dengue control activities with fogging.
- The Health Minister also mentioned in the letter that the drop in temperature had not started from mid-October to early November, thus creating ambient climate conditions for the spread of dengue.
