Nov records 60 new dengue cases, highest in past 5 years in Ggn

Forty five new cases of dengue were recorded in the city in the past three weeks taking the total number of cases so far this year to 445 — the worst in the last five years with the city recording a total of sixty new cases in November alone.

The new cases have been reported from Sushant Lok I, Sector 56, DLF Phase II and III, and Ardee City, in Sector 52.

According to the data received, majority of patients were in the age group of 15 to 35 years while seven were in the age group of 35 to 45, and 10 were between ages 50 to 60. 

The data received from the epidemiologist superintendent of the civil hospital shows that 2015 has recorded the highest number of dengue cases while 2011 recorded 429 cases, 2012 had 156 cases, 375 cases in 2013 with 2014 recording 86 cases.

However, Dr V K Thapar, deputy civil surgeon, vector-borne diseases department, said only a few cases are usually reported in the month of December. “Even though dengue cases were recorded until December last year, with a dip in temperature, we are expecting the number of cases to go further down. But it is not possible unless people take all preventive measures,” he told Millennium Post. 

It was also observed that 149 cases, the highest monthly-basis data were recorded in October 2015 itself. There were a total of 1209 suspected cases that had come after a cross check at the district health department, out of which 445 were confirmed to be diagnosed with dengue.

“We conduct two tests- IGM and NH1 to confirm if a patient has dengue. Private hospitals conduct multiple tests and even then claim normal fever to be dengue fever. 1209 cases were rechecked at our department out of which, 445 were confirmed with dengue,” said Dr Ramesh Dhankar, chief medical officer, Civil Hospital. 

Not only have cases been reported after a dip in temperature, but about 10 per cent of these cases are a combination of diseases like dengue and malaria or dengue and typhoid. Dr Rajesh Kumar from Paras Hospital said, “I think bad sanitation conditions and massive construction activity in the city are responsible for the trends.” The district administration rolled out a helpline (0124-2222465) to report the violation of anti-dengue norms, which works on all working days.