Dengue is making its way again in Jammu Division as fresh cases have been reported in the region with officials terming it an emerging threat in the coming months. However, the government said it is adopting a three-pronged strategy for the control and management of the infection.
A top health official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that this year, 25 cases of dengue have been reported in Jammu Division, with most of them in Jammu district only.
As of now, no patient suffering from dengue was hospitalized as they are having mild symptoms which are managed at home, he said.
The official said that on the direction of Administrative Secretary to Government, Health and Medical Education, the authorities are going to adopt a three-pronged strategy for the control and management of dengue.
An aggressive IEC/BCC campaign will be carried out through local radio, television and Jammu Municipal Corporation’s garbage collection vans, he said, adding that surveillance activities are being enhanced for vector-borne diseases in districts. Besides, for identification and prioritisation of high-risk areas, a comprehensive strategy is being charted out for integrated vector management (IVM), he said.
The health official said that domestic breeding checkers are being hired for source reduction activities of vectors.
He said the principals of Government Medical Colleges, Chief Medical Officers and Medical Superintendents have been directed to have earmark separate dengue wards along with blood component facilities in all GMCs and district hospitals. The concerned authorities have been directed to immediately impart training to the staff to start diagnostic facilities for dengue at district hospitals in Ramban and Reasi, he said.
“The chief medical officers have been directed to ensure that all private laboratories and nursing homes must upload the data on the integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) while CMOs and BMOs have been directed to enhance surveillance activities of Vector Borne Diseases, and identify high-risk areas strategies so that the integrated vector management may be worked out,” he informed.
MD JKMPCL and State Malariologist have been directed to ensure the availability of diagnostic kits, drugs, insecticides and other logistics.
Pertinently, 18 people died of dengue while over 8,000 were found positive in J&K last year.
Dengue viruses spread to people through the bite of an infected Aedes species (Ae. aegypti or Ae. albopictus) mosquito. Almost half of the world’s population – about 4 billion people – live in areas with a risk of dengue. It is often a leading cause of illness in areas with risk—(KNO)