The incidence of dengue is on the rise in Puducherry and its suburbs, if the number of cases reported at the government general hospitals and primary health centres last month is any indication.
Puducherry region has recorded the highest number of dengue cases in October with 67 people testing positive for the fever.
About half of these cases were reported from the suburbs of Kalapet, Kirumampakkam, Villianur and Lawspet in the city. The number of cases reported in August and September were 15 and 50 respectively.
As many as 246 cases were reported in the last 10 months. However, the number of cases reported this year was very low when compared to last year’s figure of 4,568.
According to a Health Department official, “The incidence was more in the rural areas. Aedes aegypti, the dengue causing mosquito, breeds in stagnant water. The water, which gets collected in the trays of coolers, refrigerators, discarded tyres, coconut shells are its favourite breeding grounds. The Health Department alone cannot do any justification to control the virus unless the line departments cooperate.”
The Health Department held series of meetings with officials from the Education, Local Administration and Public Works Departments and also stepped up information, education and communication activities in all urban and rural hot spots to control dengue.
The healthcare providers were asked to investigate all cases with a history of fever for more than three days to rule out dengue.
The number of cases was expected to reduce with the onset of the northeast monsoon, he said.
According to a doctor, the common signs and symptoms of dengue include high fever accompanied by at least two of the following symptoms including severe headache, pain behind the eyes, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, swollen glands, muscle and joint pains.”
Swine flu
Sources said the number of swine flu cases in the Union Territory were also on the rise. Nineteen confirmed cases were undergoing treatment in Jipmer.
A senior official attributed the rise due to the conducive weather conditions. People having symptoms of swine flu should immediately report to the nearest doctor or hospital and avoid visiting crowded places.
The diagnosis and early treatment was very important he said and added that the risk group included pregnant women, children, elderly persons with underlying illnesses and immunodeficiency.
