Indore dengue toll rises to 4, health dept on alert

Health authorities have stepped up surveillance around Madhya Pradesh’s economic hub after the death of a 23-year-old man, taking the toll to four in the dengue outbreak.

Health authorities have stepped up surveillance around Madhya Pradesh’s economic hub after the death of a 23-year-old man, taking the toll to four in the dengue outbreak.

Dr GL Sodhi, in-charge of Integrated Disease Surveillance Project, said that a laboratory test confirmed that the death of the man on November 27 at a private hospital was due to dengue.

While the count of positive patients for dengue has risen to 139, the health department has gone into an alert mode.

“We were on the watch quite early only. We had deployed teams and alerted nodal officers, but since the number of cases has increased, we are now more cautious,” said Dr Sodi.

With mobile teams being created by the malaria department, the objective now is to keep things under control in areas where people have tested positive.

“They check for larvae samples and also create awareness in the area. They also distribute medicines and anti-larvae insecticides,” added Dr Sodi.

However, as dengue cases have registered an increase this year, the health department has issued an advisory against dengue.

“In the start dengue is somewhat similar to malaria. People should not take it lightly and see a doctor the moment they experience heavy fever,” the advisory said.