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| Dengue Fear | | | The recent floods have triggered fear of outbreak of Dengue and other waterborne diseases in Jammu region.
Many areas remaining water logged have worsened the situation. Experts have warned that mosquito breeding in these stagnant waters could surge within a week, potentially spiking Dengue cases after September 15.
According to the media reports that currently, 55 cases have been reported within Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) limits and are likely to go up. Till date 245 Dengue cases have been confirmed across Jammu division.
Experts and doctors are advising people to exercise caution and follow the health advisories in letter and spirit.
People are hoping that the authorities will come for their rescue and dewater the areas which are still water logged.
The Weatherman predicting more rains in coming days can make the situation gloomy.
The experience of past monsoons should serve as a stark reminder. Every year, dengue cases begin to climb as soon as water stagnation becomes widespread. This year, however, the twin burden of floods and prolonged waterlogging has made conditions unusually conducive for an outbreak.
The immediate priority must therefore be to prevent vector proliferation. Dewatering of inundated colonies, unclogging of drains, fumigation, and distribution of mosquito repellents should be undertaken on war footing. The civic bodies, health department, and disaster management authorities must coordinate closely to ensure that these measures are not delayed until the crisis spirals out of control.
Equally important is the role of public awareness. People need to keep their surroundings clean, avoid water accumulation in containers, and seek medical help at the first sign of fever. But for this to be effective, people must be consistently reminded through door-to-door campaigns, announcements, and media outreach. Awareness, after all, is the first line of defence against Dengue and other water borne diseases.
It is also crucial that hospitals and health centres prepare themselves for a possible influx of patients.
Adequate stocks of testing kits, medicines, and blood platelets must be ensured in advance, lest the health system become overwhelmed when cases spike.
A coordinated effort between government hospitals and private clinics can help share the patient load, particularly if the situation worsens.
At a time when the flood-hit people are already grappling with the trauma of loss and displacement, an unchecked outbreak of Dengue or any other waterborne disease could add to their woes.
Public health must therefore be treated as an inseparable part of disaster response. Relief is not only about food and shelter but also about ensuring that survivors do not succumb to diseases in the aftermath. |
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