Dengue cases on rise in Gurgaon, one dead

The number of patients suffering from dengue fever is on the rise here, with one person having already succumbed to the viral disease, Gurgaon authorities said on Friday.

A Platelet Separator Machine was installed on Thursday at the General Hospital here from where the patients can collect packed platelets for Rs.8,500 per packet.

The private hospitals usually charge Rs.15,000 to 20,000 for a platelets packet.

In the last three days, a quick action team, under Haryana's Director of Health Department Praveen Garg, conducted a survey of various parts of Gurgaon district.

Their report revealed that larvae of Aedes mosquito was found in huge quantity in and around villages of Wazirabad and Gurgaon. Larvae of Aedes mosquito were also reported from a few areas of Basai and Manesar region.

The Gurgaon district administration has issued a public advisory for taking precautionary measures to prevent dengue so that the larvae of Aedes female mosquito, which spreads dengue, do not get conducive breeding atmosphere.

The quick action team's report was submitted to Deputy Commissioner (DC) T.L. Satyaprakash who has urged the public to keep checking their coolers and ensure that water coolers are dried at least once a week.

Satyaprakash said the Aedes mosquito breeds in clear water and is active during day time and the female Anopheles mosquito, which spreads malaria, breeds in dirty water and is active during the night. The larvae need seven days to develop fully into a mosquito.

According to health authorities, 47 cases of dengue have been reported in Gurgaon till now and a majority of them are being treated at various private hospitals.

A 16-year-old boy suffering from dengue fever, a resident of Farukhnagar near Gurgaon, died two days ago at a private hospital.

Over 150 suspected mosquito-borne disease patients are waiting for test reports.