Dengue cases almost double in 2 weeks

Chandigarh: Dengue cases in the city have crossed the 200 mark from 115 on September 12.

Within a span of two weeks, there has been a rise of almost 100 cases that are expected to rise further owing to incessant rainfall. Also, atypical virus cases affecting sector 40 residents and resulting in joint pains have been reported. Moreover, till date, six chikungunya cases have been reported in the city.

“If the rain continues this way, we will not be surprised to see a rise in dengue cases, as this is a favourable time for dengue mosquitoes to breed,” said Dr US Gill, assistant director malaria, UT health department.

Sources said residents of Sector 40 were the most infected with vector borne diseases due to waterlogging in the area. However, the UT health department has denied it, confirming them as cases of atypical virus. “These were reported last month from this sector where we did a house-to-house survey and found that only one case was of chikungunya as confirmed by the ELISA test,” said Dr Gill. He said, “It seemed there were suffering with H1N1, Covid and some rheumatic fever resulting in joint pains. We had seen them and asked for an ELISA test from GMCH or PGI. But the patients did not revert.”

On Sunday, there was a health check up camp where doctors from the Ayush department had come to distribute medicines to patients in Sector 40. “We saw more than 35 patients with pain in the legs and other joints. They were perhaps previously suffering from some viral infection,” said Dr Rajeev Kapila, senior ayurveda physician, government dispensary in Sector 37.

Experts predict that the dengue cases will rise within the coming week. “As there is a heavy downpour across the Tricity, more dengue cases are expected. We have started fogging in most of the areas to prevent the spread. However, residents must be careful,” said Dr Gill.