The continuous rainfall may have brought respite from the scorching heat, but at the same time it has aggravated the health situation, registering a steep rise in cases of Chikungunya and Dengue.
The sudden outbreak of Dengue and Chikungunya in Capital City’s Hindpiri locality and its adjoining areas has become a cause of concern here. A consolidated data suggests more than 66 per cent of Hindpiri area is severely affected by the mosquito-borne diseases.
After diagnosing over 34 patients with Chikungunyaand two patients with Dengue recently, the Department of Health and Family Welfare in co-ordination with Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) organized a Health Camp at Hindpiri Idrisia School (ward 23) on Saturday.
According to Ranchi Civil Surgeon, Dr Vijay Bihari Prasad, the situation is under control and all preventive methodologies are being adopted to further restrain the endemic. Facilities ranging from availability of proper stock of medicines, ambulances to spreading awareness among the ward residents through Information, Education and Communication (IEC) medium are being taken up there.
Prasad stated that mostly those residents who are living in ward 22 and ward 23 have been diagnosed with Dengue and Chikungunya. Further sharing the details of elaborate arrangementsmade at the infected areas, the Civil Surgeon said that besides starting fogging in ward 22 and ward 23 covering all nooks and corners, deployment of additional labourers for ensuring cleanliness of sewerage drainages, over eight beds have been reserved in Ranchi Sadar Hospital to deal with any emergency like situation.
“The District Malaria Control officer alongwith his team is present on the spot. Until and unless, people are not made aware about the precautionary measures nothing can be done. Excluding some localities in ward 22 and ward 23, at most places, stagnant water and open sewerage drainage can been seen, which is a prime cause of the outbreak of Dengue and Chikungunya,” added Prasad.
According to medical practitioners, Chikungunyais a viral illness and its symptoms are similar to those of dengue, including high-grade fever, severe joint pain, muscle pain, headache and joint swelling. It also causes rashes in patients, but is not a threat like dengue in which there is a risk of bleeding due to the abrupt fall in platelet count. “Treating physicians have been instructed to collect the blood samples and sent to RIMS,” Dr Prasad stated.
Further, ward councillor of 23, Sajda Khatoon said that as many as 212 patients were diagnosed under experts’ supervision on Saturday. “After checking more than 200 patients, the team led by District Malaria Health Officer collected 45 samples. Seven persons have been diagnosed with Dengue whereas 38 residents have been diagnosed with Malaria,” added the ward councillor. Notably, on the request of an NGO, RIMS recently had organized a health camp at Hindpiri where blood samples of nearly 59 persons were collected. After examining the blood samples nearly 40 persons were found infected with Dengue and Chikungunya.