The district health department has come in to action mode to combat spread of dengue. The department has started an awareness campaign in the areas where the disease is traditionally reported more. On its part, the Municipal Corporation (MCD) of Dehradun too has also started fogging activity in many localities of the provisional state capital. The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Dehradun, Dr Y S Thapliyal told The Pioneer that the department is on a pro active mode so that the dengue is under control. The outburst of the disease is reported during the months of monsoon. The CMO said that the department would start a comprehensive door to door survey of the city from May 15. The district vector borne diseases officer Subash Joshi said, “ We have started an awareness campaign with the help of 300 Asha workers and Asha facilitators. From May 15, door to door survey would start in which the health department would work in source reduction of mosquitoes.’’ He further added that the in awareness campaign people are being asked not to let water get collected in around their households. People should use mosquito repellent creams, nets and wear clothes which cover their body completely.
Dengue is a viral infection spread by the mosquito Aedes Aezypti popularly known as Tiger Mosquito due to the characteristic strips over its body.
The presence of this virus is detected by conducting the Enzyme linked Immunosorbent Assay (ElISA) test which is the confirmatory test for the disease.
The symptoms of the disease are persistent high fever, rashes, headache and pain in the joints. In the acute cases the platelets number decrease drastically which may prove fatal for the patient.
last year the district health department reported 198 cases of dengue from Dehradun. In the year 2016 dengue affected the population on a large scale as 1434 cases of the disease were reported by the department.