Ludhiana, August 06: The anti-larvae staff team of the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme visited various areas in the cityon Wednesday.
According to Dr Maninderjit Singh, District Health Officer, Ludhiana, “Larvae of dengue mosquito were detected in the Tyre Market near the Old Local Bus Stand, workshop and coolers of DMC and CMC hospitals and in the Punjab Agricultural University.
Traces of eggs were also found in the Municipal Corporation Located at the Mata Rani Chowk, B & R Office on the Rani Jhansi Road and Rakh Bagh while adult mosquitoes have also been found in the coolers of Police Lines. In most cases, the larvae of dengue were present in coolers, tyres, scrap, pots, flower pots and broken vessels.”
He further said a larva is a potential source of dengue infection because a larva gets converted in to an adult mosquito within a week. Last year, the city saw more than 2,500 cases which claimed 13 lives.
The civil surgeon has appealed to the general public not to let water accumulate in desert coolers, tyres and broken vessels in their surroundings area. He warned people to refrain from storing water in open drums and uncovered water tanks. “Coolers should be emptied, scrubbed and dried every two to three days, if they have to be used,” he said.
Meanwhile Dr Gurjeet Singh Civil Surgeon Community Health Centre, Sahnewal, said, “We received two cases of gastro from Punjabi Bagh area last night. One was admitted to the Civil Hospital while the other was sent back after giving required medicine.”
Dr S S Dhir said, “We have also received a report from PGI in Chandigarh regarding a sample of the Punjab Bagh area. As per the report, the patient was suffering from cholera.”
Viral and bacterial diseases on rise
The monsoon season brings along a plethora of bacterial and viral diseases. Patients are thronging clinics and hospitals in the city complaining of high fever, body aches, cold and cough.
Apart from this, a couple of water-borne and vector-borne diseases have also been reported. Dayanand Medical College and Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Sandeep Puri said, “The out-patient department daily receives patients complaining of symptoms like fever and body ache. We have also received a few cases of malaria, typhoid along with cholera and gastroenteritis.”
Private pediatrician Dr Dinesh Aggarwal said, “Many schoolchildren fall sick by getting infected from the sick children. Parents should refrain from sending their ill children to school. General hygiene should be maintained for good health.”
Dr G P Mangla, the district Epidemiologist said, “The main problem lies with the community which does not bother on what we suggest. People should drain out water from desert coolers.” —Anupam Bhagria
–Agencies