322 dengue, 6,695 malaria cases reported in Haryana

Also, nine cases of chikungunya have been reported so far

As many as 322 dengue cases and 6,695 cases of malaria have been reported in Haryana this season, a senior health official said on Saturday.

The Health Department is fully alert and prepared to check the spread of vector-borne diseases like dengue, chikungunya and malaria, Director (Malaria) Dr Vijay Garg said.

He said so far 322 cases of dengue have been reported in the state of which 26 patients have been admitted to hospitals and 201 have been discharged after treatment. Besides, 95 patients are undergoing treatment in OPDs.

Garg said 6,695 cases of malaria have also been reported in the state of which 4,409 have come from Mewat.

Nine cases of chikungunya have been reported so far, he added.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Anil Vij has directed the officers concerned to complete fogging drive in the state within next ten days to effectively check the spread of vector-borne diseases.

Vij, who was presiding over a meeting to review the measures being taken for checking the spread of dengue and malaria in the state, reprimanded the officers "for not carrying out the work in a time bound manner".

He urged the people to observe Sunday as 'drying day' by cleaning utensils and coolers to check breeding of mosquitoes.

Vij directed the officers to make available facilities and kits for detection of dengue in all districts.

He directed officials to maintain vigil on private hospitals so that they do not charge more than prescribed rates for conducting 'ELISA' test. Besides, he also asked them to ensure that dengue test results were confirmed by the laboratories of state-run district hospitals.