Dengue on the rise, malaria on the decline

District Health Officer Dr S.S. Dhir said that the malaria cases were sharply declining over the years while the dengue has again shown a sharp rise from 28 cases last year to over 200 so far this year.

The number of cases of malaria reported in the district in 2005 were 267 and in 2006 and 2007, the number of cases were pegged at 192 and 75 respectively.

As for dengue cases, the total number of cases in the state has gone up to 405, with the most number of cases – 246 – from Ludhiana, according to the latest data provided by the state unit of Integrated Disease Surveillance Project.

Meanwhile, the flow of patients of dengue in the city hospitals continued as Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) reported 35 cases, SPS Apollo Hospitals recorded five and Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) and MD Oswal Cancer Hospital recorded one each.

IDSP project coordinator visits city

Project coordinator of Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (ISDP), Dr Deepak Bhatia who visited the city on Monday, said, “We are closely watching the increasing trend of the disease and the daily report is being sent to the Government of India for providing feedback on the same.” A health team from Delhi was also expected to arrive in the city on Monday in regard to the current situation, but the visit was cancelled at the last moment.

Schools told to make full-sleeve shirts mandatory for students

Realising the gravity of the situation in the wake of high number of dengue cases pouring in the district at an average of over 20 per day, the district administration held a special programme along with the health department and district education office for some 400 principals and head-teachers of the government schools of the district.

Started with the initiative of Priyank Bharti, additional deputy commissioner, the meeting held was aimed at imparting awareness to the heads of the government schools so that water borne and vector-borne diseases could be checked. The participants at the meeting laid stress on awareness pertaining to dengue.

On the occasion, the District Education Officer Sudesh Bajaj directed all the school principals present on the occasion to make wearing full sleeves compulsory for both teachers and students. Dr Ajit Singh Chawla also spoke on the occasion and apprised the teachers and principals about the precautions and symptoms of the disease.