The State Task Force, comprising departments of Local Govt, Rural Development and Panchayats, Labour, Medical Education and Research, Water Supply and Sanitation, School Education and Animal Husbandry, is working in close coordination, making joint efforts to control the spread of dengue in Punjab, said Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu on Tuesday. “The people must have to participate in the drive against dengue as transmission season of dengue lasts till Nov and early Dec. The State Health Department has tested 10,890 samples for dengue since Jan and out of these 4,692 patients have been found positive so far,” he said. The Minister emphasised that the public should come forward in reporting every case of fever, especially when the State is already fighting with COVID-19 which overlaps the symptoms of diseases to diagnose it. “It is the cooperation of the public which can go a long way in the prevention and control of dengue as the breeding of mosquito is mainly reported in houses and offices,” said the Minister adding that Punjab Govt has declared ‘Every Friday-Dry Day’ which means the disease of dengue can be prevented by emptying and cleaning the water containers once a week.
Sidhu said that he reviewed that the majority of dengue cases were being reported from urban towns of the State and maximum breeding of mosquito was being reported in coolers, tyres, trays of fridges, flower pots and discarded items.
“Instructions have been issued to all the district officials to provide immediate treatment to all fever cases being reported in Government Hospitals so that morbidity and mortality due to dengue could be brought down,” he said.
The Minister emphasized that dengue is not the only cause of platelet deficiency and this should not cause panic and facilities were available in Government hospitals to tackle the situation. People should report to the Departments of Health and Local Government if a case of dengue is reported so that appropriate sprays and fogging could be undertaken by the Local Government in that area.
He also appealed to the public to stage a fight against dengue as the mosquito responsible for dengue and chikungunya (aedes) breeds only in fresh and clean water and bites only during day time.
