26 across Kashmir found positive, all travellers
Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, Nov 7: As Kashmir reports several cases of dengue, the authorities have now set up a dengue testing facility at JLNM hospital while as it is mulling to set up a few more in the north as well as south Kashmir in coming days to have a proper and effective testing mechanism in place aiming at early detection of the disease.
While the authorities were seen struggling in the absence of effective testing facilities across Kashmir earlier, the officials told Excelsior that the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir (DHSK) has now set up a dengue testing lab at its JLNM Hospital Rainawari while as one more was already functional at SKIMS.
Dr Talat Jabeen, Epidemiologist Kashmir told Excelsior that while a testing facility has been set up at JLNM, they will also be setting up two more facilities at GMCs Baramulla and Anantnag to have the facility in Central Kashmir as well as in South and North Kashmir for early detection of the infection.
With regard to the number of dengue cases that Kashmir has got presently, officials said that so far, there are 26 cases where the results have been found positive. All these patients, officials said, are presently being treated for the mosquito-borne viral infection in various hospitals.
The officials also said that all the dengue cases that Kashmir is currently having, were infected outside and developed symptoms after reaching Kashmir following which they were tested and found positive for dengue. They said that all of them have got a travel history to places in the country where they have been infected while impressing that there has not been any indigenous dengue case reported from Kashmir so far.
“The conditions for the infection are not suitable here in Kashmir for the carrier of the viral infection; there is no vector; if it was the reverse, then the situation would have been worrying,” Dr Talat said, adding that people need not to worry.
About the infected patients, Dr Talat said that all those patients are stable and are being treated well.
Also, the Health authorities have stepped up the training of its manpower dealing with the management of the infection in Kashmir. Also, the healthcare personnel are currently being trained for surveillance and prompt treatment across Kashmir.
It has also been informed that the testing facility in the Government-run hospitals is also being augmented even as the identification of the healthcare facilities where the testing facility would be set up has also been carried out.
Earlier, the Centre had sent expert teams, aiming at supporting the Health authorities in public health measures for control and management of dengue, to J&K as well 8 other States witnessing an increase in the dengue cases. The teams will also report on the status of vector control, availability of kits, medicines and measures taken for early detection.
Director Health Services Kashmir Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Rather said the Health Department is ready to face any eventuality. “…we have started treatment facilities in all the hospitals. We have also created special teams in all districts for treatment, monitoring and surveillance of dengue cases,” he said.
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