Dengue cases surge in Chandigarh: challenges and precautions

The Tricity area, which includes Chandigarh, has experienced a rise in dengue cases in the past month, with more than 300 cases reported until the end of October. GMCH-32 witnessed an average of around 35 patients seeking treatment for dengue every week in October.
Dr. Ravneet Kaur, the head of Blood Transfusion Department at GMCH-32, stated that the demand for platelets had increased recently but assured there was no shortage. The hospital organized regular blood camps and utilized three separator machines to provide platelets from donors to patients.
Dr. Suman Singh, the Director of Health Services in Chandigarh, reported that approximately 300 dengue cases had been recorded in the Union Territory since January, with 130 new cases in October. The DENV 2 strain has been the prominent one, leading to a few hospitalizations of patients with low platelet counts. Dr. Singh emphasized that there was no shortage of beds or platelets, and cases were expected to decrease with lower temperatures.
Dr. Parvinder Chawla, a senior consultant in Internal Medicine at Fortis Hospital Mohali, highlighted warning signs for dengue, including vomiting, abdominal pain, severe headache, bleeding, and difficulty in maintaining proper liquid intake. He recommended close monitoring of patients in a hospital setting, especially for those with low platelet counts. Platelet transfusion is usually required only if the count is below 10,000/cmm or there is active bleeding.
Professor Sanjay Jain, head of the Department of Internal Medicine at PGI, mentioned that more severe dengue cases with very low platelet counts had been referred to the institute for hospitalization. On average, over 25 dengue patients are referred to PGI daily from the region.
Dr. Suresh Bhonsle, District Malaria Officer in Panchkula, explained that proactive measures and steps had been taken to control the spread of dengue this year. Community participation, awareness programs, cross-border meetings, inspections, and surveillance contributed to the decline in dengue cases in the region.
With voluntary platelet donations and efficient testing, there was no shortage of platelets, and results were available within 24 hours.