Uttarakhand CM gives advice to patients in lieu of dengue outbreak

Trivendra Singh Rawat, the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, recently advised dengue patients to take 650 mg of paracetamol instead of the usual dose of 500 mg. This comes in lieu of Rawat responding to claims of dengue becoming an epidemic in the state. Rawat’s statement comes at a time when Uttarakhand is reeling from the effects of dengue. There have been reports of more than 4,800 people being affected in the state.

READ: Ayush Ministry: Ayurvedic Medicine Treating Dengue To Be Launched

‘Dengue is far from acquiring epidemic proportions in Uttarakhand. Consuming 650 mg paracetamol and taking some rest cures one of the disease,’ sic the Chief Minister said in a statement.

READ: Health Emergency Demanded By Telangana BJP As Dengue Scare Grips State

Uttarakhand affected 

R K Pandey, Director General (DG), Health, recently informed the media that the total number of dengue cases reported in the state this year reached 4,800 on September 25. The officials stated that the majority of the cases have been reported from Dehradun. More than 3,000 people have been diagnosed with dengue so far. This is followed by Haldwani where 1,100 cases have been reported.
Trivendra Singh Rawat claimed that six people have died of the disease in the state so far. Four in Dehradun and two in Haldwani. He also added that none of the deaths had occurred in government hospitals. Furthermore, he added that he had visited the dengue patients when they were in the hospitals stating that the patients benefitted from the treatments that were being offered there. DG Pandey, however, speaking of dengue stated that even though the numbers were higher this year, it can be contributed to the fact that more diagnostic centres have set up the ELISE test. He added that the numbers are on a decline, hence, there is no need for panic.

READ: ICMR Confirms Dengue Vaccine To Be In India From Early Next Year

Dengue epidemic 

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection which occurs in the monsoon season. Uttarakhand had been affected by it especially this year. Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) has started its fogging drive in an attempt to eliminate dengue from Dehradun. Delhi recently conducted a two and a half month campaign to eradicate instances of dengue in the state. The instances of dengue have increased 30-fold over the last 50 years. Up to 50-100 million infections are now estimated to occur annually in over 100 countries, putting almost half of the world’s population in danger. 

READ: Dengue Virus Becomes Resistant To Certain Vaccinations: Study

(With PTI inputs)