After struggling with the Covid-19 outbreak, the state is staring at a dengue epidemic this year. So far, the number of dengue cases is almost 35 per cent higher than the last year. On an average, 180 cases per day are being reported across the state. As per the state’s Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, the state had reported nearly 4,000 dengue cases . The number was around 2,600 in the corresponding period last year. In 2019, the state had recorded 10,289 cases and 14 deaths. According to Health Department officials, the way mosquito larvae were being detected in residential areas, the number could easily cross the last year’s count.

• Ludhiana is the worst-affected district with 790 cases. It is followed by Tarn Taran (394 cases), Moga (330) Ferozepur (326) and Bathinda (261).
• Alarmed at the situation, the Health Department has asked all civil surgeons to take necessary steps to control the outbreak and  residents must check mosquito breeding grounds around them. Otherwise, it will become difficult for the Health Department to bear pressure of another outbreak.

Dengue

• Dengue is a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus (Genus Flavivirus), transmitted by several species of mosquito within the genus Aedes, principally Aedes aegypti.
• Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash.
• There are four strains from Type I-IV, of which Type-II and IV are considered more severe.
• Incidence of dengue has grown dramatically around the world in recent decades, with a vast majority of cases under-reported, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
• WHO estimates 39 crore dengue virus infections per year, of which 9.6 crore show symptoms.
• India registered over 1 lakh dengue cases in 2018 and over 1.5 lakh cases in 2019, according to the National Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP).
• NVBDCP is the central nodal agency for prevention and control of six vector borne diseases i.e. Malaria, Dengue, Lymphatic Filariasis, Kala-azar, Japanese Encephalitis and Chikungunya in India. It works under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• The dengue vaccine CYD-TDV or Dengvaxia was approved by the US Food & Drug Administration in 2019, the first dengue vaccine to get the regulatory nod in the US.
• Dengvaxia is basically a live, attenuated dengue virus which has to be administered in people of ages 9 to 16 who have laboratory-confirmed previous dengue infection and who live in endemic areas.