59 of 86 dengue patients in GB Nagar are minors: Govt
OF THE REMAINING 27 ADULT PATIENTS, SEVEN ARE STILL UNDERGOING TREATMENT, SAID HEALTH OFFICIALS
NOIDA: In Gautam Budh Nagar, children (below the age of 18 years) comprise more than 65% of the total dengue cases, according to the latest data, officials said on Tuesday.
Amid an increase in the infection, Gautam Budh Nagar reported 86 dengue cases till Tuesday (October 5), of which, 59 are children -- all are at Postgraduate Institute of Child Health in Noida -- between the age of five and 18 years.
“The 59 children -- none critical -- have recovered following treatment. Of the remaining 27 adults, seven are still undergoing treatment,” said Rajesh Sharma, district malaria officer, Gautam Budh Nagar.
Last week, officials identified two dengue hot spots in the district. “Localities in Barola and Chalera villages of Noida were identified as hot spots after 10 dengue cases were reported from there. Health teams have taken containment measures, and are making door-to-door visits
to inspect larvae breeding sites and clear those at the earliest,” Sharma said.
In the past one week, the district health department has also issued notices to 32 private premises with mosquito breeding sites, he added.
“At present, we have five rapid response teams in the district -one at the district level, and four at the block level -- which have
been tasked to ensure that o mosquito breeding takes place. Since dengue mosquitoes usually bite during the day, all the office authorities in the district have been asked to stay vigilant and avoid collecting water in containers where these mosquitoes are likely to breed,” Sharma said, adding that the department is conducting fogging and antilarvae medicine spraying drives in the district. “Our health teams are screening densely populated localities to eliminate chances of mosquito breeding. Dengue is an urbanised disease, and these mosquitoes breed indoors -- in artificial or man-made containers. So, our teams are focusing on such areas. The teams are also going door-to-door to check on people suffering from fever, and are also taking their samples for dengue and malaria testing,” added Sharma.
Meanwhile, there are no fresh cases of scrub typhus or leptospirosis in the district. The total tally of scrub typhus in Gautam Budh Nagar is four, after a private hospital in Noida reported one fresh case last week. Two leptospirosis cases were also reported.