Dengue cases in Punjab cross 8-year record

LUDHIANA: The number of dengue cases reported in Punjab this year broke a seven-year record. The number of cases crossed the previous annual high of 4,349, recorded in 2008, on Monday.
So far, only five of the 11 suspected deaths have been confirmed as dengue by the dengue death review committee. The other cases are pending review.
Bhatinda is the worst-affected city this year, with 1076 positive cases, followed by Ludhiana with 570, Patiala with 497, Jalandhar on 302 cases and Amritsar with 203 cases till Monday.
This year's dengue outbreak is more than double the number cases recorded last year, which reported 2014 cases. After the high of 4,349 in 2008, Punjab recorded just 245 cases in 2009, 3,921 in 2010, 770 in 2012 and 4117 in 2013.
“Out of 4,369 cases reported till date from different cities, 458 patients are currently going under treatment in hospitals,” said Dr Gagandeep Singh Grover, state epidemiologist.
“All the cities are on high alert during this dengue season. We are taking continuous follow-ups from each district health departments about fresh cases. Deaths are also being reviewed regularly,” Dr Grover added.
Of the five confirmed dengue deaths so far, two each are from Amritsar and Patiala and one from Kapurthala. However, the six other deaths that had been reviewed were rejected on the basis that along with dengue, the patients had been suffering from other illnesses too.