Lucknow (November 2006)

[Snowy Owl]

Dengue in city through the year: KGMU study​

http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=207665

Lucknow, November 1: While the Health Department has maintained that the dengue outbreak in the State was due to ?imported? cases from Delhi and adjoining areas, a recent study by the King George?s Medical University (KGMU) has concluded that ?dengue transmission occurs throughout the year in the State Capital?.

The year-long study was carried out by KGMU?s microbiology department and paediatrics department. It points out that while ?acute, undifferentiated febrile (related to fever) illness? is a common childhood problem in Lucknow, around one-fifth of such cases that are reported throughout the year test positive for dengue among children. The study has also found that while dengue is known to be common in Lucknow, it draws attention only during an epidemic.

Talking to Newsline, Dr Rashmi Kumar, the main guide of the study, informed: ??The epidemic occurs only because there are no proper remedial measures throughout the year. So, during the season of vector-borne diseases, there is an outbreak.??

As a part of the research work, around 122 cases were studied in the time period between September 2005 to September 2006. Besides Dr Rashmi Kumar, there were three other doctors in the team: A Kanodia, V Venkatesh and Chadrakanta.

The objective of the study was to study the role of dengue in causing ?acute, undifferentiated febrile illness? round the year. The cases which came to the paediatric OPD were confirmed after the ELISA test for dengue.

During the ongoing dengue outbreak, Lucknow has reported the maximum number of cases and deaths in the State. While the total number of cases in the State has touched 550, with 14 deaths so far, the State Capital alone accounted for around 200 cases and three deaths. In fact, even as dengue cases are on the decline in the rest of the State, Lucknow reported five fresh cases today. Yesterday, six new cases were reported from different parts of the city.

??We accept that there is a need to initialise a permanent programme to prevent the spread of the disease. During an epidemic, special government orders are issued. But for the rest of the year, co-ordination with various departments like Nagar Nigam becomes difficult,?? said AK Singh, the district malaria officer who is responsible for fogging and anti-larva activities in the district.