Health Dept intensifies precautionary measures to contain dengue in Kurukshetra district
Though no dengue case has been reported so far, the health department has intensified its inspection and fogging activities in Kurukshetra district.
On the basis of trends, the department is focusing on hotspots and high-risk areas where majority of cases have been reported during the previous years. Breaking the previous records in 2024, the district witnessed 283 cases against 263 reported in 2023. The district reported five dengue cases in 2019. The number of people, who contracted the disease, rose to 18 in 2020. The figure further increased to 129 in 2021, and then a drop was witnessed with 104 cases surfacing in the district in 2022.
Dengue cases surfaced around first week of July last year. In Kurukshetra, Sector 3, Sector 5, Sector 7, Sector 13, Ward No. 31, Mohan Nagar, Kirti Nagar, Didar Nagar, Shanti Nagar, Patiala Bank Colony, Chakravarti Mohalla, Gandhi Nagar, Pipli, Babain, Jhansa and Barna are some of the hotspots from where dengue cases are reported.
An official in the Health Department, “The department conducts door-to-door survey, provides information about mosquito-borne diseases, educates people about how to prevent the spread of dengue and inspects houses to detect larvae. Twenty mosquito checkers have been deployed in the Thanesar area to check breeding of larvae. Notices are served to owner if larvae are detected in his/her house.”
Dr Pradeep Kumar, Deputy Civil Surgeon, said, “The department has been taking all necessary steps to check mosquito breeding. The Municipal Corporation has been told to conduct fogging and not let water stagnate at any location in the city. Civic body officials have been asked to impose fine on people in whose houses dengue larvae are detected. The Panchayati Raj Department has been told to carry out fogging in the rural areas.”
He said, “Similarly, the civic bodies and the Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran have been instructed to check plots in order prevent breeding of mosquitoes after rains. The Health Department is making people aware about how to prevent spread of dengue. Community participation is important to contain dengue. People shouldn’t allow water to stagnate in their surroundings and take precautions to keep the disease at bay. Dengue spreads through bite of an infected mosquito. People should use nets while sleeping.”
He said, “Since January, dengue larvae have been found in 2,052 houses. Notices have been served to 151 owners of houses where larvae have been found. Thirty-nine dengue tests have been conducted and all have tested negative for the disease. As per guidelines, only Elisa test is reliable for the confirmation of dengue. Instead of going for rapid tests, Elisa test should be conducted for a confirmed report and treatment taken accordingly. People should avoid self-medication.”
Haryana Tribune