Amritsar reports 3 dengue, seven chikungunya cases

Three cases of dengue and seven of chikungunya have been reported from the district this year even as the period when the cases of these vector-borne diseases are at their peak is still a month and a half away.

Puddles of water dotting the city provide an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. The situation is particularly dire in the areas inhabited by lower economic strata of society such as Kot Khalsa, Haripura, Nawi Abadi and Ghanupur Kale. Puddles of dirty water are abundant in these localities.

“These puddles are formed with leaking sewers or water pipes. The civic body should take immediate action and plug such leakages,” said Jagtar Singh, a local resident. He added that keeping the surroundings clean should be a priority for the Municipal Corporation, but it had apparently turned a blind eye to it.

Water accumulated in the defunct fountain at Nehru Shopping Complex, which is lying unused for over a year now, is a glaring example of the city’s neglect. The structure has become a monumental breeding ground for virus-spreading mosquitoes, posing a significant risk to public health.

A rapid spread of chikungunya cases is also a cause for concern. Until a few years ago, a single case would trigger the alarm bells. Last year, the district had reported a total of 32 chikungunya cases. This year, seven incidents have already been reported even as the peak season is still over a month away. This shows that that the disease is spreading its tentacles in the city, and an immediate action is required.

District epidemiologist Dr Harjot Kaur said, “Apart from checking mosquito-breeding sites and conducting inspections of households and commercial buildings, we have also planned various awareness events to educate the public about the risks of mosquito-borne diseases.” She added that the district had not reported any malaria case in the past two years, which was a positive thing. The official stated that they would also write to the Municipal Corporation to clear mosquito-breeding sites.

Punjab