Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA, Sept 20: Fifteen cases of dengue have been reported from Samba district since September 1 this year, while the Hospital authorities at District Hospital Kathua said that no case of dengue has been reported form the district so far and reports about the same are baseless.
Admitting that 15 patients have been detected positive for dengue virus Nodal Officer of Health Services Department Samba, district, Dr Puri said that seven of them have been admitted in different hospitals while one baby child Mehak of Kartholi village of the district who was a suspected case of dengue died in SMGS Hospital recently.
He said, however, he was not a confirmed case and still the area was sanitized by the Health Department and spraying was done to avoid the spread of the deadly disease.
He said out of seven patients four are undergoing treatment in GMC Jammu, two in SMGS Jammu and two in GMC Ludhaina, Punjab.
He said in some cases people go directly for treatment to outside state.
He said the dengue is a vector borne disease and entire area where from the case is reported is being sanitized and sprayed to prevent its spread under the Government of India’s National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme.
Dr Puri said the department has taken various steps and preventive measures to control the spread of dengue in the district. He however said that preventive measures can only be taken after the case is reported from any area and once the case is confirmed the department locates patient’s residence and starts in door spray. Besides, spraying is being done in 50 houses in neighborhood also.
In Samba district three hospitals including District Hospital Samba, Emergency Hospital Vijaypur and Primary Health Centre Bari Brahmana collect blood samples of the patients who are suspected to be suffering from dengue. These samples are sent to Department of Micro Biology GMC Jammu where Elisa test is conducted which confirms whether patient is suffering from dengue or not, he added.
However, Medical Superintendent District Hospital Kathua denied the reports that any dengue case has been reported from the district so far.
Dr Singh while talking to this reporter said that no patient has been detected as positive for dengue in Kathua district so far.
He said the patients coming for treatment and suspected to be suffering from dengue are the routine cases of viral fever or typhoid. If any case is suspected to be suffering from dengue he is referred to GMC Jammu and so far no positive report has come, he added.