Srinagar, Aug17 :
The Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory has so far reported 83 dengue cases, with 75 reported in the Jammu division and eight in the Kashmir division. Health officials have emphasized that testing for the disease is ongoing across hospitals.
According to the Directorate of Health Services in Jammu, as of August 17, there have been a total of 3250 tests conducted at various hospitals, revealing 75 confirmed cases of dengue in the Jammu division. The health department has been meticulously preparing for the treatment of dengue patients in response to this increase in cases.
Officials have highlighted that the majority of dengue infections in have emerged in Jammu district. A few cases have also been identified in other districts such as Samba, Udhampur, and Kathua.
In the Kashmir division, health officials have reported eight cases of dengue, all of which involve travellers with a history of recent travel. All eight patients received treatment and were subsequently discharged from hospitals. A recent case has been admitted to Srinagar’s Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital. However, there have been no new reported cases in the valley.
Meanwhile, the health department has taken proactive measures, initiating information, education, and communication campaigns to raise awareness about preventive measures against dengue transmission.
While patients tend to experience mild symptoms, health officials are implementing a range of measures to curb the further spread of the disease. The health department has issued comprehensive instructions for control measures to be followed.
This year, preventative measures have been implemented earlier due to the presence of dengue cases in Delhi and neighbouring states, with concerns about potential spread to other areas and cities.
To combat the spread of dengue in Jammu and Kashmir, Bhupinder Kumar, Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department, led a meeting on August 3. During the meeting, senior officers and officials reviewed the state’s readiness to tackle the dengue epidemic. The Secretary Health urged all Chief Medical Officers to enhance surveillance efforts and implement source reduction activities to effectively manage the disease’s spread.
In the ongoing efforts to gather accurate data, all Chief Medical Officers have been directed to ensure that private laboratories and nursing homes promptly upload information onto the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP).
