Dengue grips Rajasthan, 4,121 cases this season

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Our dept is carrying out door-to-door surveys and awareness activities in the state to educate people about the spread of the disease. PRAVEEN ASWAL, state nodal officer for the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme

JAIPUR: The spread of seasonal diseases continues in the state with 4121 positive dengue cases and eight deaths being reported in Rajasthan till October 31 this year, as per health department data.

The number of dengue cases in the state stood at 2,979 on October 20 as per the health department data. The number of cases has since risen to 4,121 till October 31, an addition of 1,142 cases in 11 days.

Other seasonal and zoonotic diseases such as malaria, swine flu, chikungunya are also on the rise and the health department has set up control rooms and rapid response teams across the state to control any outbreak.

As per health department figures, there have been 5091 positive cases of swine flu in the state from January 1 to October 29 this year and 208 deaths.

The number of Malaria cases stands at 2355 from January to October 29 and one death has been reported.

There have been 1972 cases of Scrub Typhus till October 30 and one death reported. A total of 321 Chikungunya cases have been reported till October 31 in the state.Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease characterised by symptoms such as high fever, joint pains, headaches and rashes.Eight dengue deaths have been reported in the state – two from Bharatpur districts, two from Jaipur I, two from Jaipur II, and one each from Karauli and Sikar districts.

Jaipur district has reported the highest number of cases in the state till October 31 at 1,692 positive cases. The health department has divided Jaipur into two zones - Jaipur I and Jaipur II. There have been 1,119 cases reported from Jaipur I and 573 cases reported from Jaipur II.

The number of cases in Jaipur district stood at 1,336 on October 21. In the last 11 days, another 356 cases have been reported in the district.

Kota district has reported 510 positive dengue cases between January and October 31 while Sikar district is a distant third with 189 cases in the period.

Health department officials, however, say that the spread of the seasonal disease is under control. “Our department officials are carrying out door-to-door surveys and awareness activities in the state to educate people about the spread of the disease and measures to control it,” he said.

Dr Ravi Prakash Sharma, director, Rural Health, said while the department is doing its bit, the civic bodies are neglecting their duty. “The primary responsibility of carrying out anti-larval activities and awareness campaigns is with the municipal corporations and other civic bodies but they are not taking these seriously,” he said.