Tag Archives: Dengue

Health Dept in Uttarakhand prepared to tackle dengue menace

IEP DEHRADUN AUGUST 20, 2022

Amid the fear of spread of the dengue in Uttarakhand, the secretary in charge of health and family welfare department, R Rajesh Kumar has said that the general public should take necessary steps for prevention of spread of the disease. He said that the health department is on an alert mode on the disease and it has made all the preparations for preventing the spread of the vector borne disease. Kumar claimed that a strategy was planned by the department well in advance and dengue control activities were undertaken from the State to the district level due to which the situation is under control.

He said that the period starting from the onset of Monsoon till October is favourable for spread of the disease and during this period people should remain cautious. The secretary in charge said that the department has undertaken source reduction activity on a large scale in the city. The anti dengue activities are being done in coordination with Asha workers and Municipal Corporation and fogging is being done in the affected areas. He added that apart from source reduction exercises the health department has also undertaken an awareness drive in which people are explained the ways to prevent the menace of dengue.

Kumar added that the street plays are being enacted in the villages to spread awareness about the disease. He said that isolation beds for dengue patients have been kept in reserve in all the hospitals. It is pertinent to mention here that Aedes Aezypti, the vector of the disease, strikes during the day time and breeds in clear water. The doctors’ advice people to wear full sleeved clothes to prevent exposure to the mosquito bite and don’t allow water to get collected in their vicinity. Dengue is a viral infection spread by the mosquito Aedes Aezypti popularly known as Tiger Mosquito.

The symptoms of the disease are persistent high fever, rashes, headache and pain in the joints. In the acute cases the platelets number decreases drastically which may prove fatal for the patient. In Uttarakhand the disease is more prevalent in Dehradun, Haridwar, Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar districts

27 Dengue Testing Labs are functional in Haryana

IEP Chandigarh July 15, 2022

The situation of Vector-Borne Diseases (VBDs) namely Malaria, Dengue, Chikungunya, and Japanese Encephalitis (JE) is well under control in Haryana. All necessary measures for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of VBDs are in place. All four VBDs prevalent in the State have been made notified till March 31, 2024 under Epidemic Disease Act.

This was informed by Additional Chief Secretary, Health, Sh. Rajiv Arora while presiding over an inter-sectoral meeting with the representatives of various Departments chalk out the cumulative strategy for the prevention and control of Vector Borne Diseases (VBDs). MD, National Health Mission, Sh. Prabhjot Singh, Director General Health Services, Dr. Veena Singh and Additional Director General Health Services (ADGHS), Dr. Usha Gupta also attended the meeting.

Haryana is poised to the path of malaria elimination

He said that Haryana is poised on the path to malaria elimination. Since 2015, there is a steady decline in malaria incidence in the State. As many as 9308 Malaria cases were reported during the year 2015 which reduced to 54 cases during the year 2021. Seven Districts viz. Ambala, Bhiwani, Jind, Kaithal, Karnal, Kurukshetra and Rohtak reported ‘Zero Indigenous Malaria Case’ during the year 2021. District Kaithal has achieved ‘Zero Indigenous Case Status’ for last three consecutive years i.e. since 2019 and District Ambala and Jind for last two consecutive years.

Mission Director, NHM,Sh. Prabhjot Singh informed that seeing the multi-sectoral approach for proper management of stagnant water, the help of other sectors and community is essential for prevention & control of VBDs and therefore inter-sectoral meeting has been convened to seek the help of other Departments/Sectors for proper management.

Wearing of full sleeve uniforms by students may also be ensured

Sh. Prabhjot Singh said that Education Department has been directed to sensitize school children in prayer assembly about VBDs like dengue, malaria and sensitize them to observe every Sunday as ‘Drying Day’ in their home and school premises i.e. emptying of water from coolers, uncovered water containers, pots, bird-baths, rooftop water carrying utensils/disposable cups, bottles etc. wearing of full sleeve uniform by students may also be ensured, especially during the transmission season.

27 Dengue Testing Labs are functional in the state

ADGHS, Dr. Usha Gupta said that the Dengue test is free in Govt. hospitals and at present, total 27 Dengue Testing Labs are functional in the state, at least one in each District. In addition, private hospitals/labs are restricted to charge maximum Rs. 600/- for the recommended dengue test (ELISA-based NS1 and IgM). Platelets is provided free of cost to dengue patients of Haryana residents admitted to Government Hospitals since 2020. Total 5 Government platelet apheresis facilities and 72 private apheresis facilities are functional in the State.

List of Do and Don’ts released

For public awareness, it was apprised in the meeting that Potholes around houses be filled with sand. Water from coolers, flower pots, handles etc. be emptied once a week and scrubbed properly to kill the eggs of mosquitoes. Wear full sleeve clothes. Use mosquito repellants and Bednets (machhardani). Use mosquito proof wire-nets on doors & windows. Cover the overhead water tanks & other household water containers. Ensure insecticide spray in each room of the house in high-risk areas and don’t paint the house at least for 3 months after the spray. Co-operate during spray operations. Seek Doctor’s advise on having fever immediately.

Further, it was informed that do not take Aspirin or Brufen, or Ibubrufen by your own. Don’t allow water to stagnate inside houses and surroundings for more than a week. Don’t throw the broken cups, disposable cups/ glasses unused tyres, pots, plastic bottles etc. in open so that water may not get accumulated in these containers during rain. If it is not possible to keep these items inside, cover these with tarpaulin. Don’t fill the cooler with water while it is not in use. Don’t let the water to accumulate around hand pumps and taps.