Health authorities reject rumors of dengue outbreak in Rajouri

RAJOURI OCTOBER 21: Authorities in Health Department have rejected the rumors being spread in a section of social media regarding dengue scare in Rajouri and informed that all the requisite medical facilities are in place to deal with any emergent situation. 

A spokesperson of District Administration said that adequate stocks of IgM testing kits to detect cases of dengue are also being made available at District Hospital in coordination with the State Malarialogist. 

A help desk is being set up at District Hospital Rajouri to attend suspected dengue patients besides undertaking intensive IEC campaigns for enhancing awareness among the masses regarding the preventive and curative measures to be taken, he added.

He said two patients affected with dengue are being treated at District Hospital Rajouri, while 2 other patients referred to GMC Jammu have returned home after successful treatment.

Meanwhile the District Administration has sealed the Nirankari Diagnostic Laboratory reportedly involved in creating dengue epidemic scare by practicing unauthorized and outdated rapid test (NS1) that led to false reporting of more than 100 cases positive for dengue.

It was found that the registration of the said Diagnostic has expired and thus material including reagents, kits , test reports and all the  relevant record have also been seized for further scrutiny and detailed action.

A designated team conducted inspection of few other private   laboratories to take first hand information about the number of suspected dengue patients.

  The surprise checks were conducted in the town jointly by Health, Drug and Food Control in the presence of Executive Magistrates and local police.

The spokesperson reiterated that Diagnostic laboratories, run by untrained and unregistered technicians, was a serious issue and all such labs shall be closed.

He further added that as a precautionary measure, the District Administration has intensified the vector control measures by carrying out regular cleaning, spraying and fogging in the vulnerable and high-risk areas.

The concerned authorities have been directed to sanitize the accumulated water, clean dirty lanes and create awareness about the importance of hygiene among the masses.

The District Administration is closely monitoring the situation and has also kept the concerned health authorities in a state of readiness to tackle any unfavorable situation, he added.