Spurt in dengue cases; several patients under treatment Neeraj Bagga Amritsar, November 4 With Verka registering the third dengue death, panic has gripped the area. Pooja (37), a resident of Verka, who had been under treatment, lost her life today. A few days ago, two members of a family died of dengue. Besides, six others of the area are under treatment for the past couple of days. Amandeep Singh (35), a resident of Guru Nanak Nagar locality in Verka and his 13-year-old nephew Harmanbir Singh died recently. Residents said a large number of residents of Baggewal Patti are under dengue treatment at private clinics in the area. The spurt in dengue cases has set alarm bells ringing for health and district administrative authorities. A team of experts visited the area on November 2 and took samples from suspected spots. To their surprise, they found dengue larvae in a water pot, installed for pigeons at a dargah, situated near the Verka railway station police post, and two more houses in its vicinity. Of the six cases found in Verka, three were in the locality opposite Gurdwara Nanaksar, one case each at Sohan Di Patti, Guru Nagar and Guru Nanak Nagar. Navtej Singh, a resident of Verka, said six dengue cases were confirmed, but actual numbers were high. He recalled that there were a few such cases last year too, but the number was not as high. He added that dengue spread its tentacles in the area only after Diwali. The district epidemiologist wing has already issued 870 challans this season to owners of buildings where mosquito larvae have been detected. Officials of the Health Department cials said the Government Medical College (GMC) and the Civil Hospital were equipped with apheresis machine and dengue patients were provided platelet extraction services free of cost. They said all private hospitals had been asked to send their samples to the microbiology department of the Government Medical College.

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