PNS n Dehradun
The menace of dengue continues to loom over Uttarakhand as the dengue count crossed the 400-mark on Thursday with 51 new cases being reported by the health department on the day. As per the health department officers, the count has gone up to 440 in the State.
In Dehradun districts, 27 new cases have been reported on the day while 14 patients afflicted with the disease have been reported from Tehri district. Haridwar has recorded seven cases while one case each has been reported from Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar and Almora districts.
The district vector-borne diseases officer Dehradun Subhash Joshi said the department has undertaken intensive door to door survey of the city while informing the people about preventive measures they should take to check its spread. He, further, claimed that the teams of the health department are visiting the areas from where the dengue patients are being reported. Interestingly, Joshi has held the people responsible for the spurt in the number of dengue cases. “We have done door to door survey and distributed five lakh pamphlets meant to create awareness among the people on the disease.
The fact that the number is still surging points to the people not taking the preventive measures to keep it at bay,” he said.
He, further, informed that that people should ensure that the breeding places of mosquitoes inside their homes and vicinity are destroyed. “ Aedes mosquitoes-the vector of dengue-are capable to lay their eggs in one spoonful of water. It is thus imperative to decant pots, vases, water bottles and coolers regularly. Besides, as Aedes mosquito bites during the day time the people are being advised to wear full sleeves to reduce exposure of their body for the mosquito to bite,” he said.
Ways to prevent dengue
1 Don’t allow water to get collect in and near houses.
2 Regularly decant fridges, coolers, pots or cans.
3 Spread kerosene or other oils on small water bodies which is effective to destroy the larvae of Aedes mosquito.
4 Inform the district health authorities for fogging to kill mosquitoes.
5 Aedes strikes during day time and flies near ground level, so wear full sleeved clothes at work places.
6 Immediately seek medical advice when someone develops fever.
