Dengue control steps intensified

AURANGABAD: Intensifying the measures to control spread of dengue in Noor Colony, a team of nine doctors of the civic health department has examined 69 patients, collected nine samples of blood from people suffering from fever and sent it to the Government Medical College and Hospital for testing.

A 30-year-old man from Noor Colony had succumbed to the disease on Saturday. Following the death, civic chief Sunil Kendrekar had visited the area on Sunday and directed the officials to immediately implement dengue control measures.

The doctors conducted door-to-door survey of around 250 houses in the colony on Sunday and Monday.

According to the vector-borne disease controlling officer, AMC, Manisha Bhondwe, the team has examined nearly 600 water containers and conducted abate treatment for 511, while mosquito larvae were found in three containers which were emptied.

Around 20 suspected dengue patients were found in the city in December and the civic body is taking all measures to control the disease, she said, adding that they have intensified fogging near water bodies and in residential areas to bring down the mosquito density.

The civic body's claims on mosquito control measures, however, seem to have fallen flat as the city alone reports about 70% of dengue patients of the total 77 reported in four districts of Aurangabad division this year. Of the total dengue patients reported in Aurangabad, Jalna, Parbhani and Hingoli, 55 patients have been reported from AMC limits, while15 are from rural pockets of Aurangabad district.

As per the records of the Aurangabad circle, deputy director of health services, Aurangabad district has reported 68 cases of dengue, of which 15 are from rural pockets and 53 from AMC limits. Two cases were reported from Jalna, five from Parbhani and two from Hingoli.

The city has also reported the highest number of chikungunya cases this year with 14 patients suffering from the disease. Rural Aurangabad district has reported eight cases, while Jalna registered three.

In case of malaria, 39 cases were reported this year from Aurangabad district (rural), 22 from AMC limits, five from Jalna, 15 from Parbhani and three from Hingoli district.