Punjab Health Minister Surjit Kumar Jayani on Tuesday directed all Civil Surgeons of the State to get prepared as the transmission season of dengue has started. “Testing of dengue is done free of cost at 20 centres in the State and kits are available with the department for this. All the laboratories in the Government hospitals are equipped to conduct testing. Department is spreading awareness in the public in order to prevent the breeding of the mosquitoes. Rallies and sensitization workshops are being held in each town of the State,” said Jayani.
The state Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Vini Mahajan said that the Health Department has established dengue wards with mosquito nets in the government hospitals for suspected dengue cases and confirmed cases of dengue will be given supportive treatment in the form of antipyretics and intravenous fluids free of cost. She said that the mosquito responsible for spread of dengue bites only during daytime and it breeds only in collections of water inside or surrounding the homes.
“Dengue can be prevented if people cooperate in cleaning the coolers, water tanks, water collections, trays of refrigerators etc at least once a week,” she said. Health Minister said that the health department is committed for prevention and treatment of dengue but people should come forward and be involved in eliminating the breeding places of mosquitoes in order to prevent dengue.