Health dept gears up as dengue cases rise in city

Director,Health Services (DHS) Dr S K Bhalla called a meeting of team of doctors and examined the arrangements to deal with the mosquito-borne disease.

“I called a meeting today morning and checked the number of cases. At present,ten patients are admitted at Dengue ward of GMSH-16 and out of them one patient is tested positive. The patient is from Ambala,” Bhalla said.

Bhalla assured that if required,the hospital is ready to attend to about 200 dengue cases at once. “The Health department is geared up to deal with an epidemic-like situation.

“A separate ward has been designated for dengue patients,medical teams have been formed,glucose and medicines are stocked up and laboratories are ready,” he added.

Dr Anil Garg,assistant director,malaria said,“Most of the dengue cases which are reported at the city-based hospitals are from outskirts. In Chandigarh,people are more aware and are maintaining hygiene in their areas.”

“In Chandigarh,about 39 dengue cases have been reported this year. Last year 320 cases were reported,” Dr Mukhmohit,an epidemiologist said.

How a person is infected

Dengue is a viral disease,transmitted by the infective bite of Aedes Aegypti mosquito. A person develops the disease after 5-6 days of being bitten by an infected mosquito. It occurs in two forms,Dengue Fever and Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF). Dengue Fever is a flu-like illness,but DHF is more severe,can sometimes be fatal.

Symptoms

*Abrupt onset of high fever

*evere frontal headache

*Pain behind eyes which worsens with eye movement

*Muscle and joint pains

*Loss of sense of taste and appetite

*Nausea,vomiting and measles-like rash over chest and upper limbs