Korba sees sharp spike in dengue cases

Raipur: More than 100 patients have tested positive for dengue in Korba district so far this season.
The spread has been attributed to an increase in mosquito larvae, contaminated water, and unclean drains in several areas and colonies. Health authorities have intensified their vigilance and are taking prompt action. Door-to-door surveys are also being conducted in the affected areas to monitor the situation.
In the urban area, around 120 positive cases have been identified, a sharp increase from earlier years. Dengue patients are now being found in areas including Mudapar, Transportnagar, Purani Basti, MP Nagar, Shivaji Nagar, RP Nagar, RSS Nagar, CSEB Colony, and the suburban areas of Dardi and Balco Nagar, confirmed a health official.
To combat the spread of dengue, the health department is conducting awareness campaigns. However, concerns have been raised about cleanliness in residential colonies, particularly in the ECL colony.
While the roads on the front appear clean, the drains are often neglected and clogged, leading to water accumulation that fosters mosquito breeding. The municipal corporation has not prioritized anti-larva spraying and fogging enough, further exacerbating the situation.
Patients have been admitted in different hospitals, while many of them have been discharged. Residents are urged to eliminate contaminated water around their homes and take precautions against mosquitoes.
Rapid testing has been conducted for about 2,000 patients with fever. Most of these patients have been treated successfully. So far, 22 new cases have been admitted to hospitals, but no deaths from dengue have been reported in the district.
With the rain continuing, the risk of vector-borne diseases has been gradually increasing in the region with the large number of patients seeking medical health in the districts.
People need to follow the precautionary guidelines during the season when dengue cases have begun reporting, health officials said. The emphasis is on surveillance programs so that the spread of the disease can be prevented.
The symptoms of the disease include muscle, joint pain, red marks on the body, high fever, headache, vomiting, and dizziness. As far as prevention is concerned, one should make sure that contaminated water should not be collected, keep checking manholes, septic tanks, clogged drains, use mosquito repellent, and not ignore any and all early symptoms. If one suffers all these symptoms, they should then contact the doctor for the rapid test, said health officials.