Spurt in dengue cases in Puducherry

PUDUCHERRY: With the onset of the monsoon, there has been a spurt in dengue cases across Puducherry. In the past three months 49 confirmed cases of dengue were reported from Puducherry alone, including the death of a four and half year old child, said director of Health and Family welfare Dr K Raman on Saturday.Around 194 cases of fever with symptoms of dengue have been reported from  the hospitals of Puducherry, of which 77 are positive as per the rapid test, while 49 are confirmed cases of dengue. Most of the cases are  from Kosapalayam, Lawspet, Muthialpet and some cases from Karikalampakkam, Kalapet, Kirumampakkam, said Dr Raman and added that in addition 80 cases of dengue from Tamil Nadu were being treated in the hospitals of Puducherry including JIPMER.The heath department has made elaborate arrangements to investigate  all suspected cases of dengue and to identify their serology by taking blood from public in Primary Health Centre itself, he said. Confirmed cases are referred for treatment. Preventive measures like assessment, source reduction and the usage of fogging wherever warranted are then initiated by National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP).Cases requiring greater attention are being treated in the tertiary hospitals like Indira Gandhi Government General Hospital and Post Graduate Institute and JIPMER, which are fully equipped to deal with such cases, he said.The fever is caused by Aedes Eqypti mosquito which breed in fresh water collections. There are four types of the virus carried by the mosquito causing dengue. There is no specific treatment for dengue and at times when not attended could cause shock syndrome and hemorrhagic fever. The first signs of dengue fever are severe pain behind the eyes, nausea, vomiting.People with such symptoms should immediately seek medical attention, said Dr Raman.