Dengue cases reach 1,075 in Haryana

Chandigarh, Sep 24: The number of dengue cases in Haryana rose to 1,075 today, even as Health Minister Anil Vij said there was no need to panic and that the government was taking necessary steps to bring the situation under control.

"There is no need to panic. We are closely monitoring the situation and taking all necessary steps to bring it under control," he said today. Two deaths have been reported so far from the state, one from Ambala another from Panchkula. Gurgaon reported the maximum number of positive at 228, Vij said.

Among other places, Hisar reported 121 cases, Jind 66, Karnal 53, Faridabad 52, Sirsa 44, Rohtak 42, Panchkula 40, Ambala 30, and Sonepat 33. Meanwhile, in Chandigarh, the number of patients testing positive for dengue rose to 157 today.

Vij said the state Health Department has directed all civil surgeons in the state to intensify measures to prevent spread of the disease.

Directions have been issued to activate the already constituted Rapid Response Teams and make frequent visits to the affected areas to ensure that any abnormal rise or any impending outbreak of the disease is checked, he said. They have also been asked to ensure anti-dengue fogging in their respective districts, he said, adding, adequate supply of testing kits should be ensured to all Sentinel Surveillance Hospitals (SSHs).

For platelets, two new Apheresis Machines have been installed and made functional in Gurgaon and Panchkula. The civil surgeons have also been directed to conduct door-to-door surveys, particularly in urban areas and slums to check Aedes' breeding sites inside houses, he said. The Minister said public should also be made aware about the steps taken by the health department.

PTI