268 dengue patients in Punjab: Officials

At least 268 positive dengue cases have been reported so far in Punjab this season, a senior health official said here today.
"Till date, 1068 suspected cases were found in Punjab out of which 268 were found positive. Only 13 patients are admitted till date and rest of them have been discharged," Punjab's Health and Family Welfare Principal Secretary Vini Mahajan said.
She appealed to the people to build awareness about all diseases so as to tackle this menace effectively.
"An exclusive Dengue ward has been established in each district hospital to ensure full and proper treatment to patients," she said.

She asked each department concerned to conduct a survey across the state to check mosquito breeding, if any.
She ensured that the state has sufficient stock of larvicides, testing kits and free treatment facilities to tackle the situation.

Meanwhile, Punjab Health Minister Surjit Kumar Jayani issued directions to authorities to launch a war against dengue and malaria besides other vector-borne diseases and asked the authorities to join hands with civic authorities to ensure full proof preventive and curative measures.
Concerned by the spread of dengue after the rainy season and unpredictable temperature, the Health Minister today chaired a day long meeting of state task force and directed civil surgeons to ensure dengue and Malaria prevention mission on war-footing, an official spokesman said.

Jayani said that a 'Joint Monitoring Committee' with representatives from all the departments concerned would be constituted at the state level which would meet in every week for monitoring of epidemic prone diseases.
The Minister also announced setting up of a control room at head quarter that would submit hourly report to the authorities for optimum utilization of resources.