1 week Ago By Shariq Majeed
Ludhiana: This monsoon, the number of dengue cases recorded in Ludhiana till September 7 was much lower than last year. According to a health department report released on Saturday, Ludhiana reported 56 dengue cases from January 1 to September 7. Data of last five years suggests that 158 dengue cases were reported in the corresponding period last year.
Health department authorities attribute the 65% reduction in cases to steps taken to check vector borne diseases. As per data of the last five years, the number of dengue cases in Ludhiana district was highest in 2023 whereas the lowest number was in 2020, when only six cases were reported in the district between January 1 and September 7. In the ongoing year, 39 cases were reported in the district between January 1 and July 31.
However, only 17 cases were reported from August 1 to September 7. Of the 56 dengue cases reported this year, 35 were from urban areas of the district and 21 from rural areas. Among the urban areas, Ludhiana city reported 30 cases, Khanna reported five while none were reported from Jagraon.
Among the various blocks in rural areas, Manupur had nine cases, Koom Kalan had six, Sahnewal had five. No case was reported from eight of the 12 blocks. District epidemiologist Dr Sheetal Narang said that efforts are being made check vector-borne diseases.
She added that various teams had been constituted for the purpose, including 18 teams for Ludhiana city. Health officials said that each team has a multi-purpose healthcare worker (MPHW), supervisor and sehat sahayak (health assistant). For rural areas, the department has 100 teams comprising MPHW, supervisors etc.
The district epidemiologist said that fifty breeding checkers have been deployed in Ludhiana city and an equal number in rural areas of the district. Besides carrying out house to house breeding checks, the breeding checkers destroy mosquito larvae with larvicide and create awareness among people about vector-borne diseases. As part of the activities to check mosquito breeding, teams are checking parks, coolers and tyres for larvae in residential and commercial areas besides creating awareness about the diseases in schools and colleges.
Every Friday is observed as “dry day” as part of Har Shukarwar Dengue Par Waar campaign (wherein vases and flower pots are not watered to break the cycle of larvae). Teams also visit government and semi-government offices for checks. Meanwhile, experts advised people to be vigilant.
Punjab IMA president Dr Sunil Katyal said that even as fewer dengue cases have been reported, since it has been raining, people should not allow water to stand in open containers as dengue causing mosquitoes breed in clean water. He advised people to cover their body as much as possible to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes and use mosquito repellants indoors..
