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Written By: Agencies | Published : October 27, 2013 2:30 PM IST
While Navi Mumbaikars are reeling under the outbreak of dengue, the condition of residents from neighbouring Panvel and Uran talukas is not good too. According to officials from Raigad district health office (DHO), the number of suspected dengue cases has increased in the district, mainly from Panvel and Uran talukas, where outbreak of the disease is maximum.
An official from the DHO said in all 105 cases of suspected dengue reported from the district till September, 2013, 51 were positive while no death has been recorded till date. 'The cases have increased this year since we recorded 34 positive cases from January to December, 2012 with one death reported from Karjat taluka,' the official added.
Together in Panvel and Uran talukas, the suspected cases reported in 2012 were 36, of which 10 were positive while in 2013 (till September), 10 suspected cases have been reported and only case was positive. 'Though the cases from these two talukas have not increased much this year, the number of people complaining about contracting fever has increased,' the official said.
'Since a lot of construction activities are going on in Panvel and Uran talukas, mosquitoes breed easily in these areas. The construction debris and accumulated water is the place have increased the mosquitoes in this area. We have been conducting campaigns and going door-to-door to inform people about various precautions needed to be taken to prevent dengue,' district health officer, Dr HA Patole said.
'Residents should see to it that they keep their surroundings clean and do not store water for more than two days. Also, the people should see to it that they change the water from the flower pot frequently as dengue virus-carrying mosquitoes breed on flower pots too,' Patole added.
The official said that his office has made arrangements to see to it that fogging in morning and evening hours is done in all the areas, particularly villages, and chemicals are also sprayed on a regular basis. 'Also, we have asked the municipal councils and self government bodies coming under the district to take necessary steps to ensure that the epidemic is controlled,' the health officer concluded.
What is dengue?
It is a tropical disease, usually transmitted by mosquitoes and the common symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains and skin rash. There is no vaccine for dengue and the only way to reduce infections is to improve hygiene levels so as to prevent mosquito-bites and prevent mosquitoes from breeding. It's particularly difficult to create a vaccine because it's caused by different viruses and there are no animal models available for testing. The disease kills over five thousand Indians every year and is a seasonal threat, particularly during the monsoon seasons.
What are the symptoms of dengue?
Characterized by severe flu-like symptoms, dengue affects infants, children and adults alike and could be fatal. The clinical manifestations of dengue vary with the age of the patient. A person suffering from high fever in the range of 40 C/ 104 F, accompanied by any two of the following symptoms could be suffering from dengue:
Symptoms usually last for 2-7 days. Dengue could progress to severe dengue, a potentially fatal complication, causing leaking of plasma, fluid accumulation, respiratory distress, severe bleeding and organ impairment.
The warning signs to look out for occur 3-7 days after the first symptoms along with a decrease in temperature are:
The next 24-48 hours of the critical stage can be lethal; proper medical care is needed to avoid complications and risk of death.
Prevention
Dengue is a communicable diseases spread by mosquitoes from one human to another. So, the only way it can really be prevented is by avoiding mosquito bites. One can make sure all egg-laying habitats of mosquitoes like open and stagnant water source are cleaned up. If there are any open water sources you cannot eliminate, cover them and apply appropriate insecticides. Use protection such as window screens, long-sleeved clothes, and insecticide treated materials, coils and vaporizers.
Read more about dengue its symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.
With inputs from DNA
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