With 69 dengue cases reported in Patiala, the Health Department has stepped up its efforts to control the spread of the disease. Special anti-dengue teams carried out inspections in hotspot and slum areas on Tuesday, checking houses, destroying mosquito larvae and spraying larvicide to prevent further breeding.
The teams visited Guru Nanak Nagar, Rajpura Colony, Khalsa Mohalla and Bharat Nagar, where they inspected houses and surrounding areas for mosquito breeding sites. Larvae were found at several locations and destroyed immediately. Larvicide was also sprayed in stagnant water to stop mosquitoes from multiplying.
Civil Surgeon Dr Sally Jaitley appealed to residents to keep their homes and surroundings clean. She advised people not to allow water to collect in empty containers, coolers, flower pots and other household items. She also urged residents to cooperate with health teams and actively participate in the anti-dengue campaign.
District Epidemiologist Dr Gurpreet Kaur said the current weather conditions were favourable for the breeding and growth of dengue larvae. She advised people to take preventive measures by avoiding water stagnation and maintaining cleanliness. Residents experiencing symptoms such as high fever and body aches should get tested for dengue, she added.
As part of the district-wide campaign, the Health Department has planned to cover 18,235 houses this week. So far, teams have surveyed 12,854 houses and detected mosquito larvae at 9,289 locations. The larvae were destroyed on the spot, while residents were informed about preventive measures.
To make the campaign more effective, the department is also seeking support from social workers, village health committee members and representatives of the Rural Development and Panchayats Department.
Health officials have stressed that controlling dengue requires collective efforts. They have urged people to regularly check water storage containers, clean coolers and prevent water from collecting in and around their homes.
The department is continuing its surveillance and awareness activities to reduce mosquito breeding and prevent further dengue cases in the district.
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