Chandigarh, Sep 24: Punjab Principal Secretary (Health) Alok Shekhar on Thursday said that an upsurge in dengue cases has been reported in the state in the current year.
He said 1724 confirmed cases from across the state have already been reported today. Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Sri Muktsar Sahib, SAS Nagar, Bathinda, and Pathankot are among the major districts attributing dengue cases.

He said that to prevent and manage dengue outbreaks, the state government has increased the number of testing labs to 39. He added that testing and treatment of dengue is free of cost in all Government hospitals.
Giving more details, Mr. Alok Shekhar said that Dengue and Malaria have been notified under Epidemic Disease Act, 1897, according to which all private medical practitioners must report the Dengue and Malaria case to the Department of Health and Family Welfare. Legal action can be taken against any hospital for disobeying the notification.

He said that sufficient kits for testing and whole blood and blood components are available in Government Hospitals. Rate Contract of Larvicides and Insecticides are in place and sufficient quantity for the spray is available.
He said that Department has identified the dengue wards and earmarked dengue beds in the Government hospitals for prompt and proper management of dengue cases. The number of breeding checkers for spray activities for dengue has been increased to 460 and 50-60 houses surrounding the house from where a case is reported are sprayed with a suitable insecticide.
Health and Family Welfare Director Dr. Andesh Kang Director said that awareness activities for the prevention and control of dengue have been stepped up due to an upsurge in the cases. She further told that “Every Friday has been declared as Dry day” by the Department of Health and Family Welfare to encourage the community to check the stagnation of water at breeding places like empty utensils, flowerpots, tyres, coolers, etc.
She further said that sensitization of medical and paramedical staff for the effective management of dengue is being undertaken regularly by Government Medical Colleges in the state.
She said that meetings with stakeholder departments are being organized at State and district levels and participation of the Department of Rural Development and Panchayats and Department of Local Bodies has been increased for fogging of Insecticides, larvicides, etc.
She said that the Department of Health and Family Welfare Punjab has collaborated with PGI for research on dengue, sensitivity, and specificity of various insecticides, and serotyping of different viruses for dengue. (UNI)