Srinagar, Aug 07: Jammu and Kashmir has so far reported 33 cases of dengue this year of which 25 were from Jammu following which the health department is making all sort of efforts to prevent spread of vector-borne diseases.
Officials of Directorate of Health Services Kashmir said so far eight travellers were detected positive for dengue in the Valley. “All the eight cases were put on treatment and seven were discharged from the hospitals except one who is admitted at Srinagar’s Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital,” he said.
Similarly, Jammu division has so far reported 25 cases of vector-borne dengue infections sinc January. The cases they said are mostly from Jammu district and very few are from other districts like Samba, Udhampur and Kathua.
Health officials said although the patients experience mild symptoms adding they are taking several measures to curb spread of the disease and health department has given instruction for control measures. This season, the measures have been started early following cases of dengue in Delhi and other neighboring states which might spread to other areas/cities.
In order to curb the spread of dengue in Jammu and Kashmir, Secretary Health and Medical Education Department, Bhupinder Kumar on August 3 chaired a meeting of senior officers and officials to review the preparedness of dengue epidemic.
The meeting was attended by Principals of all GMCs of UT J&K, Directors of Health Services for Jammu and Kashmir, officials of H&ME Department, representatives from Jammu Municipal Corporation, Medical Superintendents from Jammu Division, Chief Medical Officers of J&K State Surveillance Officers from Jammu/Kashmir, and other concerned officials.
As per the minutes of the meeting accessed by Rising Kashmir, Kumar emphasised that dengue is emerging threat in coming months and directed all the stakeholders to focus on control and management of dengue. Kumar also directed Principals of GMCs, Chief Medical Officers, Medical Superintendents of District Hospitals to earmark separate wards for general public. He also asked to ensure blood component facility in all GMCs/District Hospitals.
