608 test positive for dengue in Jaipur in past 17 days

JAIPUR: It seems dengue is spiralling out of control in the state. The deadly disease is threatening to repeat last year’s outbreak that had claimed 10 lives.


In the past 17 days, 608 people have tested positive for dengue in Jaipur, while 1,078 cases were reported from the other parts of the state. The situation is worrisome in the state capital as it accounted for 36% of the total cases reported between October 14 and October 31.

At present, at least 13 serious dengue patients are undergoing treatment in different wards as their condition deteriorated. Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital administration has alerted its officials to deal with any sort of situation emerged due to outbreak of dengue.

“Blood banks have been directed to keep available single donor platelet and random donor platelets. Diagnostic facilities, outpatient department and wards have been informed about the spurt in dengue cases,” said Dr Ajit Singh, additional superintendent, SMS Hospital.

Patients with fever, joint pain, fatigue, nausea and vomiting are flooding city-based clinics, hospitals, along with diagnostic centres. The situation in other parts of the state is more or less the same. The dreaded disease is caused by the bite of Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which has taken toll on the health of the people in increased numbers. The disturbing fact is that eight persons have lost their lives in 2019 so far due to dengue and all of them died in past 17 days in the different parts of the state, four of them died in Jaipur, while two in Bharatpur and one each in Sikar and Karauli .

Acknowledging that there is sharp spike in dengue cases, the health department officials have also issued directions to its officials across the state. “We are conducting fogging and anti-mosquito and anti-larvae activities in the areas from where the cases are constantly detecting. We are visiting door-to-door in such areas and distributing pamphlets and using mikes to make people aware about the disease,” said Dr Ravi Prakash Sharma, additional director (rural health), health department.

The health department officials are also displaying larvae in schools and hospitals to make people aware about the diseases and its prevention.