LUCKNOW: The surge in dengue cases continued on Wednesday with 25 more people testing positive for the disease. This was the highest single-day spike this year.
Though most of the fresh cases were reported from high caseload areas like Aliganj, NK Road, Chinhat, Indiranagar, Turiyaganj, Aishbagh and Chinhat, some patients were also reported from new localities in Maal and Kakori.
The new cases included 12 women, 10 men and three teenagers. Six patients had to be admitted to hospital because of their serious condition. Doctors said that their platelet counts were low. Other patients were sent back after receiving medicines and are recuperating at home.
Lack of hygiene and accumulation of water are said to be the main reasons behind the spike in dengue cases. The female Aedes aegypti mosquito—the carrier of the dengue virus—lays eggs in fresh water accumulated at various places in and around households. Health officers said that people should not panic but adhere to preventive measures. They also appealed to civic authorities to launch a cleanliness drive.
The cases reported on Wednesday took the dengue tally in the city this year to 575 since January. Of these, 495 (86%) cases have been reported in the past 43 days with an average of 12 cases daily.
Chief medical officer Dr Manoj Agrawal said, “We are doing extensive mosquito control activities, especially in high caseload areas. Besides, under the infectious diseases control programme, health workers are going door to door to spread awareness and distribute medical kits.”
Meanwhile, larvae were found in 27 houses after 2,713 sites were scanned in Gomtinagar, Balaganj, Mallahi Tola, Nishatganj and other localities.
