Dengue threat is back in the State capital with three suspected cases of the disease being reported from different hospitals. The chances of the spread of the disease increase during the rainy season. Three patients each having symptoms of the disease is admitted in the Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust (HIHT) Jollygrant, Mahant Indresh Hospital and Synergy institute separately. The rapid test of dengue of these three patients has confirmed the disease however the medical health and family welfare department do not considers the findings of rapid test. The department confirms Dengue only after the blood samples are tested positive for Enzyme linked Immunosorbent Assay (ElIA) test.
The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Dehradun Dr S P Agarwal told The Pioneer that the reports of ElISA test of these suspected patients have not yet received. He claimed that the department is prepared to deal with the disease. Dr Agarwal said that the department in collaboration with the Municipal Corporation is conducting an awareness campaign in the city. “Prevention against the disease is its cure; we are specially focusing on areas like Bhagat Singh Colony, Chukhuwala Mohalla, Dhalwala (Rishikesh) and Vikasnagar for awareness campaign. The department is also undertaking fogging to kill mosquitoes in suspected areas”, Dr Agarwal claimed.
Dengue is a viral infection spread by the mosquito Aedes Aezypti popularly known as Tiger Mosquito as it body has characteristic strips. The mosquito bites during daytime. The female tiger mosquito lays egg in clean water; it can even lay its eggs in as small as 5 ml of water. The symptoms of the disease are persistent high fever, rashes, headache and pain in the joints. The departmental data suggest that 121 cases of Dengue were reported in the district last year. The disease assumed epidemic proportions in the year 2010 when as many as 2900 cases were reported.