The spurt in cases of dengue in provisional state capital has jolted the state health department what has come as a relief to them is the assumption of the experts that the strain of dengue virus is less virulent this time. The disease has so far affected 25 people in Dehradun.
After an analysis of the symptoms of the disease, the experts are of the view that the virus of the disease is mild this year. Former director Health services, Dr L M Upreti told The Pioneer that the symptoms of the dengue patients reported so far show no complications. “So far no case of dengue haemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome has been reported which is a good sign. In both the cases the patients need blood transfusion and the mortality rate in them is high. The patients are also not showing any signs of muscular pain,’’ he said.
Dr Upreti who is volunteering in anti dengue operations of district health department said that exact type of strain of virus would be found only by viral isolation method, a technology which is not available in the state. The strain of the virus is identified by viral isolation method by which the serotype of the virus is known.
The dengue virus in India is normally found in three stains, Den III, Den II and Den IV. Of the three Den III type is less lethal while Den II and Den IV are lethal and induce haemorrhagic fever in patient which proves fatal.