Chandigarh, Jul 28: Punjab reported the second highest dengue cases in the country last year and accounted for the most swine flu deaths, according to the National Health Profile-2017 released by central bureau of health intelligence.According to the report, Punjab saw a sharp increase of 1,260% in the number of dengue cases in the past five years. The number touched 10,475 in 2016, when 11 people lost their lives.
The maximum 17,702 cases of dengue were reported in West Bengal last year as well as 34 deaths.
In 2012, a total number of 770 dengue cases were registered in Punjab, and nine patients did not survive.
As per the data, a total of 2,489 dengue cases were reported in Haryana, 887 in Chandigarh and 322 in Himachal Pradesh last year. Overall 1.11lakh cases of dengue were registered across India and led to 227 patients dying. Haryana recorded the highest number of 5,336 chikungunya cases in the region last year followed by Punjab at 4,314 and in Chandigarh at 1,315. The total number of chikungunya cases across the country in 2016 stood at 58,264.
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The number of malaria cases however saw a decline in the last five years across the country . From 1,689 registered cases in 2012, the number fell to 705 in Punjab in 2016. In Haryana, it came down from 26,819 to 2,448 in the corresponding period. In Chandigarh, it dipped from 201 to 157 and in Himachal Pradesh it decreased from 216 to 102.
Only four states -Odisha, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Meghalaya-saw a rise in the number of malaria cases in the last five years.
The data also revealed that the highest number of 64 swine flu deaths in the country occurred in Punjab last year. A total of 177 swine flu cases were recorded in Punjab last year. Haryana reported 68 cases and five deaths, Himachal Pradesh recorded 14 cases and 5 deaths while Chandigarh registered six cases last year. After Punjab, Gujarat reported 55 swine flu deaths last year and Rajasthan 43. A total of 1,786 cases of swine flu were registered across the country in 2016 claiming the lives of 265 patients.
Punjab’s director health and family welfare, Dr Rajiv Bhalla, said 39 dengue cases have been reported across Punjab this year. ” As compared to last year, we have recorded less dengue cases this year. We have made preparations for checking mosquito breeding and fogging etc. by involving other departments like municipal bodies.”
News Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
