Four more test positive for dengue in Gurgaon, count at 16

Four more dengue cases have been confirmed in Gurgaon, taking the total number to 16 till now.

Four more dengue cases have been confirmed in Gurgaon, taking the total number to 16 till now.

All four are male patients. While one patient has come in from Bhondsi jail in Gurgaon, the other three are residents of new Gurgaon sectors, including Sector 49 and 31. Doctors, however, confirmed that no clustering of cases have been found in any part of the city.

Meanwhile, health department officials have started checking homes for signs of mosquito breeding. Following mild showers over the past two days, health officials are now also checking for breeding in water bodies and filling such water bodies with gambusia fish.

“These fish feed on the mosquito’s larva and also do not need any food. We have a list of nearly 20 water bodies. We use these fish as a natural way to remove breeding of dengue mosquitoes from open water bodies,” said Dr VK Thapar, district malaria officer, Gurgaon.

He said advisories are being issued to residents asking them to not let water stagnate on their premises or store water without proper covering. Breeding checkers are sent to houses to help identify areas where dengue mosquitoes may be breeding.

The department currently has 30 checkers and 20 more are expected to be assigned soon. The department has sent a requisition for 248 breeding checkers, sources said.

“Coolers and refrigerator trays are common areas where dengue mosquitoes breed. It is a manmade problem and people can avoid it by taking precautions and not letting water accumulate anywhere in and around the house,” Dr Thapar said.