UP on alert over rising dengue cases

Lucknow, May 17 The increase in number of dengue cases, ahead of the monsoon season, has put health officials in Uttar Pradesh on alert.

The state's Director General, Health, Vedvrata Singh said that Uttar Pradesh has the required medical infrastructure to counter the outbreak of dengue but the key to prevention was in the hands of the people.

"There are 70 labs in the state with the facility of dengue testing at the moment and another 88 labs are being developed. Rapid Response (RR) teams have been formed at the block level who will take immediate action. Earlier such teams existed at the district level. At the same time, fever health desks have been established in every hospital," he said.

Director, Communicable Diseases, A.K. Singh said that there is neither any medicine nor any vaccine for dengue and therefore, efforts should be made to prevent the mosquito bite.

Even if the disease affects a person, recovery under medical supervision is possible, he noted.

Vikas Singhal, Joint Director, Vector Borne Diseases (VBD), said that people usually take fever lightly which costs them dearly.

"If the fever persists, the patient should get tested for dengue. Upon diagnosis, high fluid diet should be taken along with medicines," he said, adding that patients should be saved from dehydration.

Additional Director, Malaria Control, R.C. Pandey said that dengue can be stopped by united efforts by government, civic agencies and people.