Saturday 18 August 2018

Eastern India Intensifies Dengue Surveillance


Dengue has widened its grip across India in the last couple of years. The number of deaths resulting from outbreaks of this disease has been increasing, especially in densely-populated areas of the country.
More than half the Indian states were affected by the deadly disease in 2017. Delhi, Maharasthra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Kerala were the worst-affected regions. To address the dengue situation in Eastern India, primarily West Bengal, AMRI Hospitals in Kolkata has started an awareness campaign on social media, with the tag #AMRIagainstDengue, as well as created adequate medical facilities to address patients afflicted with the disease.
The disease, which hits its peak between July and November, has a lot of serious implications not just for the health of individuals but also for healthcare facilities. This year as well, the conditions are pointing towards a possible outbreak in Eastern India. However, the government administration as well as private healthcare enterprises like AMRI have created a buffer to counter the disease at the very ground level. In addition to the mobile care units in Kolkata by the West Bengal government, there also has been sufficient awareness initiative in the region to combat the very basic problems associated with Dengue.
On that line, AMRI has been particularly proactive with their social channels — publishing news, social posts and campaigns. In addition to their social work, AMRI Hospital Dhakuria has also planned to organize an Anti-Dengue month throughout August. Doctors at AMRI Hospitals have also geared up to combat any critical situation.
The spurt in dengue cases in the twin city of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack has belied the claims of the civic administrations of maintaining cleanliness. Apart from the poor sanitation, prolonged monsoon and low-pressure rains have also added to the woes.
Here are a few facts you must know in order to beat dengue –
Aedesaegypti mosquitoes are responsible for spreading dengue. They breed in stagnant, fresh water. When the mosquito bites a person, the virus is passed into the blood stream, causing complications.
A person only gets symptoms after 7 to 10 days of getting bitten by an infected mosquito. It causes severe joint pain, nausea, abdominal cramps, fever, bleeding from gums, nose or ear.
Some patients also develop hemorrhagic fever that may cause death from shock or even cause multiple-organ failure. These complications make it a deadly disease.
In the last few years, dengue outbreaks were reported from a number of countries across the tropics, putting 3.5 billion people at risk of infection.
Around 390 million people get infected with dengue in more than 100 countries. Children and the elderly are more vulnerable to this disease.
According to the medical practitioners at AMRI Hospitals, early management of symptoms can prevent complications. People often get treated symptomatically, which is good.
There is a need to get tested if symptoms last for 2–3 days or get worse with every minute. Although dengue has no cure, the symptoms can be managed if things are controlled at the earliest.

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