Haryana, Punjab on high alert to tackle dengue

Chandigarh: Haryana and Punjab have been put on high alert to check the spread of dengue and the governments of both the states today said they were "fully prepared" to tackle the situation, against the backdrop of 600 cases of the vector-borne disease being reported from Gurgaon.

According to a senior official, leaves of all the government doctors have been canceled and both the states have been put on high alert.

"The governments, both of Punjab and Haryana, are fully prepared to check the spread of dengue," said Dr Ramesh Kumar, epidemiology department head of Ludhiana district.

Civil surgeon Rajneesh Sood said that people are asked to follow the advisory issued by the government to prevent the spread of the disease.

According to the statistics of Haryana Health Department, 630 cases of dengue have been reported from Gurgaon as it is close to Delhi.

A maximum of 1,656 cases of malaria were reported in Mewat and 524 in Yamunanagar, an official spokesman said.

He said that Haryana was also affected due to the spread of malaria and dengue in Delhi, but with readiness of Health department and better medical services, the situation was "under control".

He said that people should follow the advisory of the Department and keep their surroundings neat and clean.

Meanwhile, Health department officials in Punjab said that all measures have been taken in the government hospitals and dispensaries and special wards have been set up to deal with dengue patients in the state.

They said that special teams have been constituted to test the dengue at the door steps of the residents.

Besides, sufficient stock of medicines was available in the civil hospitals and dispensaries in the state, they added.

The health department has given 4,000 Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLIN) to various hospitals in Ludhiana district, the industrial hub of Punjab, for dengue patients.

"These nets are attached to the beds of patients not only to protect them from mosquitoes, but prevent mosquitoes from bitting infected patients and spread infection further," he said.