Lack of dengue lab diagnostic facilities (kits and instruments) at the primary health care level is compounding the problem in controlling the epidemic in Puducherry as several cases go unreported.
A senior medical officer in the Department of Family and Health Services said dengue diagnostic kits were not available at the primary health centres. “Several people reporting with fever at the PHCs are referred to the Government General Hospital for dengue test. However, it is difficult to diagnose all the cases at one facility,” said the official.
The official added that there was a high possibility that deaths because of dengue shock syndrome, which did not have haemorrhagic manifestation, could be missed as routine deaths. Another doctor, on condition of anonymity, said that decentralised testing centres were vital to respond to dengue outbreak.
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In the Union Territory, there were 24 PHCs in rural areas and 15 in urban areas. “The labs have to send L form as and when the dengue diagnosis is made or other noticeable diseases to Integrated Disease Surveillance Project. This report has to be submitted on weekly basis but it is not being practised here,” said the official.
There is only one platelet separator in the Government General Hospital in Puducherry.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendation, a geographic information system (GIS)-based approach to dengue control and surveillance could link relevant spatial data to identify key patterns and relationships, aiding in planning and strategic decision-making. The recommendations states that thematic maps could be produced to visualise the spatial distribution of dengue vectors in relation to relevant environmental and climatic indicators. Similarly, dengue cases and vector densities could be mapped to view the spatial patterns of dengue distribution over time and to monitor potential movements of dengue transmission foci after the outbreaks had been identified.
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Although the Vector Control Research Centre (VCRC) is collating information, it is not known if it had influenced the decision on source control.
Red alert
Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi in a press statement informed that based on the report of the Central team visit, Samipillaithotam is considered as a red alert area for dengue. Hence, Oulgaret municipality engaged more than 100 sanitary workers for mass cleaning of Samipillaithotam on Monday.
Meanwhile, scientists and technicians of the Vector Control Research Centre (VCRC) organised an awareness campaign on dengue in Lawspet on Monday.
S. Sabesan, senior consultant, VCRC, said that this campaign had been organised at the place identified as high risk area. “A large number of dengue cases has been recorded from this area. Hence, we are beginning the awareness campaign from here. We will go to all the educational institutions and also clarify questions related to source control of dengue,” he said.
K. Gunasekaran, scientist–G (Director Grade) and head, division of Vector Biology and Control, VCRC, said they have spotted the hotspots where dengue cases were high in Puducherry and shared it with the local government.