Via The Times of India: 105 dengue cases in Chandigarh. Excerpt:
CHANDIGARH: An alarming rise in dengue cases this season in the city has made many a parent apprehensive about sending their children to play in parks or attend school. As compared to last year, the vector-borne disease swelled to 105 this September, when it was only one last September.
Going by figures from public city hospitals and known private labs, there were 105 confirmed cases this September. According to experts, children and the elderly are more vulnerable to dengue as they have weak immunity. "Children are at risk as they have low immunity. Schools must spread awareness and identify areas where water collects, which must be removed to prevent breeding of dengue mosquitoes," said Dr Rajesh Kumar, head of the school for public health, PGI.
He added, "Dengue-causing mosquitoes are day time ones and they lay eggs during this season. Whenever they lay eggs for their survival these mosquitoes bite humans for blood," said Dr Rajesh.
Jittery about the proliferation of dengue mosquitoes, Aparna Verma, a resident of Sector 18 said, "There are so many dengue cases in our neighbourhood. I am afraid that my kids might contract dengue as they frequently play in the garden."
Dr Brahmjyot, a pathologist at a private hospital in Sector 32 said, "In the last five-six years, Ive never seen such a spurt in dengue cases. Every day, we confirm a case of dengue. Till now we have 20 such cases."
