Haryana records 62 new dengue cases in a day, tally crosses 1k

GURGAON: Sixty-two patients tested positive for dengue on Sunday, pushing the state’s tally for this year beyond the 1,000-case-mark.
Of the total 1,041 cases, the highest number of patients were in Rohtak – at 146 – followed by Jing (118), Yamunanagar (113), Rewari (96) and Charkhi Dadri (86). These are counted among the ‘most affected’ districts of the state.Gurgaon’s total tally for this year is 72.
Data by the health department shows that the state has recorded three deaths linked to dengue this year — one each in Nuh, Mahendergarh and Panchkula.
The health department on Sunday asked all districts to step up door-to-door surveillance as Yamunanagar added 9 new cases on Sunday. Jind and Rewari added 7 each, Rohtak recorded 6, and Kurukshetra, Ambala and Charkhi Dadri saw five each.
Three more patients were diagnosed with dengue in Gurgaon, Kaithal, Karnal and Jhajjar districts, each. Palwal, Panchkula, Panipat and Hisar added one case each.
In Gurgaon, officials said all healthcare centres have been asked to increase sample-collection from OPDs and flu-corners to test for the vector-borne disease.
“Testing is being ramped up to avert any outbreak. Healthcare centres have also been instructed to ensure source-reduction and carry out anti-larval measures in both urban and peri-urban areas, especially those adjoining Delhi,” said Gurgaon chief medical officer Virender Yadav.
He added: “We are closely monitoring areas where these patients live and creating a database. Focused testing of those showing symptoms is being carried out in these hotspots. We have also set up a 35-bed ward for dengue patients at the Sector 10 Civil Hospital.”
Cases of dengue — transmitted by the aedes aegypti mosquito — have been lower than the previous years in Haryana so far. In 2022, the state recorded 8,999 dengue cases and 18 deaths. The case-count was 11,835 in 2021, 1,377 in 2020, and 1,207 in 2019, according to official data.
Last year, Gurgaon recorded 440 cases. The city’s tally was lower in 2021 (327 cases), fell further in 2020 (51 cases) and 2019 (22 cases). In recent years, the city reported the highest number of cases in 2015, when 451 people tested positive for dengue.
Experts said that cases could still continue to rise and stressed on preventing mosquito breeding.
“On an average, 9 to 10 patients are coming for treatment with dengue-like symptoms daily. The surge is concerning, as 5-6 may require hospitalization. Cases usually rise in the monsoon period, when there is waterlogging and the weather is warm and humid. People should empty out any stagnant water from containers near their houses to stop the mosquitoes from breeding. And they should take other precautions such as wearing protective clothing and using mosquito repellents as well,” said Dr Vijay Gujjar, head of department for internal medicine at Primus Super Speciality Hospital in the city.
The dengue-causing mosquito breeds in freshwater and its larvae take about a week to hatch. Typical symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, and skin rashes.