Dengue outbreak poses new challenge for Punjab’s health department, experts blame wet weather

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At a time when cases of Covid-19 infections have dramatically declined in Punjab, a dengue outbreak has become a new challenge for state health authorities.

According to official figures, around 2,000 confirmed cases of dengue have been detected in all districts of the state as of Friday. Hoshiarpur reported the highest number of cases with 403, followed by Amritsar (384), Muktsar (328) and Bathinda (250) districts.

Most of the cases have been reported in the past three weeks, according to health officials.

However, no deaths from dengue have been reported.

Officials said mosquito-infested spots had been found in several upscale locations, including the homes of senior government officials.

Dr Gagandeep Singh Grover, head of the state program for vector-borne diseases, attributed the surge in dengue cases to unexpected rainfall in the past month. Field surveillance found that in most cases dengue mosquito larvae were found in households, Grover said.

The community has a crucial role to play in controlling the epidemic of the disease. As the weather has been unusually humid for the past month or so, standing water in various locations has turned breeding grounds for mosquitoes, he added.

He said the death of a resident of Patiala was being analyzed if it was due to dengue.

Last year, a total of 8,435 confirmed cases of dengue were reported in Punjab, up from 11,000 in 2019.

Given the higher expected dengue infection rate this year, we have increased the number of labs to 39 from the past 30 years, said Grover.

Muktsar’s civil surgeon, Dr Ranju Singla, said the dengue infestation was highest in the small towns of Malout (170) and Giderbaha (124) while the district headquarters only has 9 cases.

Dr Tejwant Singh Dhillon, civil surgeon from Bathinda, said: “Climatic conditions until mid-November are favorable for dengue larvae. He can be controlled by keeping the environment dry in addition to covering his body to protect himself from mosquito bites, Dhillon said.

In Bathinda, the health service decided to convert the Covid service to admit dengue patients. As we receive 1 to 2 Covid patients per day, the Covid service will be moved to another location. We have many facilities, including testing and blood units, to treat dengue patients, Dhillon said.

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