Bathinda, October 17 As many as 33 fresh confirmed cases of dengue were reported in past one week in the district. With this, the total number of dengue cases has touched the 100 mark this season. Until last week, 67 cases had been reported but in the past one week, the number of positive cases swelled significantly. The number of confirmed malaria cases has also risen to 160. Out of total confirmed dengue cases, 76 are from city while rest are from various blocks in the district. Talking to Bathinda Tribune, Civil Surgeon Dr Amrik Singh Sandhu said: “The number of dengue cases increase around this time of the year as climatic conditions are more conducive for the breeding of mosquito. Due to lowered temperature, accumulated water takes time to dry up, as a result of which mosquitoes start breeding and as their number increase, mosquito bite cases also increase, resulting in rise in dengue cases. Travel, in and out of the district, is also responsible for the increased number of cases. So, the sudden increase in the number of patients must not be misconstrued as it is a routine phenomenon.” “Mosquito breeding has to be stopped and this is possible only if coordinated efforts by the Health Department and residents of the district are made. Running intensive campaigns and conducting inspections at regular intervals would barely achieve the target until residents strictly follow directions issued to them by the authorities,” added Dr Sandhu. Health Department officials said since maximum cases of dengue surface around this time, residents need to be more cautious. Symptoms of dengue and viral fever were similar, so in either of the conditions, people must make sure to visit a doctor, they said. Department officials said blood samples of suspected patients were being collected on a regular interval and all necessary measures had been taken to prevent the spread of the disease. Anti-larvae spray was sprinkled in houses where dengue cases had been reported. Family members of patients and those residing in the vicinity had also been examined, said department officials.

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