Four new dengue, two chikungunya cases reported in Gurgaon

Four new cases of dengue and two new cases of chikungunya were reported in the city in the last six days, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 75 and 25 this season.

Four new cases of dengue and two new cases of chikungunya were reported in the city in the last six days, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 75 and 25 this season.

A large signboard with the message, ‘Together we will defeat dengue’, at Subhash Chowk on Sohna Road stands next to a puddle of stinking sewage.(Rahul Grover/ HT Photo)

No deaths associated with the diseases have been reported so far.

The latest dengue cases were reported from DLF Phase 3, Sector 15 and Jyoti Park where two cases were reported.

The two chikungunya cases were reported from Wazirabad.

A total of 25 cases of dengue and 24 cases of chikungunya have been reported this month. Fourteen cases of dengue and four cases of chikungunya were confirmed in people who are not residents of Gurgaon.

Blood samples of 23 patients suspected to have contracted the diseases are being tested at the civil hospital. They had symptoms such as high fever, body rashes, low platelet count and appetite loss, a doctor at civil hospital, said.

Seeing the high number of cases, the district health department has revised consultation timings of primary health centres (PHCs) and added an additional hour.

Earlier, the timing of PHCs were from 9 am to 4 pm. Under the revised timings, the PHCs will work from 10 am to 6 pm.

There are 22 PHCs in the city, 17 in urban areas and five in rural areas. Cumulatively, they cater to 5,000 patients every day.

The health department has also made it mandatory for the civil hospital and sector government hospital to work on public holidays.

“Notification has been received from the health department and directions have been issued to the two hospitals to service OPD on all days,” Pushpa Bishnoi, chief medical officer, Gurgaon, said.

Despite directions to increase bed count, the 200-bed Gurgaon civil hospital is getting more than 400 patients. Incapable of accommodating the extra load, many patients are being referred to other government hospitals in other NCR cities.

Last year, the city had reported a three-year high in dengue cases with the district health department registering 459 cases. As many as 375 cases were reported in 2012, 175 in 2013, and 86 in 2014.