Rajasthan: Health department gears up to tackle seasonal diseases

JAIPUR: Anticipating that seasonal diseases might play havoc with health of the people in coming months, health department is planning in advance a strategy to combat the diseases. Health minister Raghu Sharma said that it is better to take preventive measures before seasonal diseases take shape of outbreak.

Health department has issued an alert on seasonal diseases including dengue, chikungunya, scrub typhus and swine flu. Specific directions have been issued to Jaipur’s health officials to step up anti-larvae activities in the city as dengue season is approaching. Last year, the highest number of dengue cases ever was reported from Jaipur. Taking lessons from it, the health department has issued directions to remain alert for dengue. Health department officials pointed out that Dravyawati river is new possible breeding ground of mosquitoes, which needs special attention. “We are conducting anti-larvae activities in Dravyawati river on a regular basis. We have conducted the activities thrice in the river. We have used Gambusia fish and burnt vehicle lubricant oil in the river to kill breeding ground of mosquitoes in the river,” said Dr Narrottam Sharma, chief medical health officer (I), Jaipur, health department. He claimed that the anti-larvae activities in Dravyawati river will continue in the coming months as well.

Dravyawati river project, a 47km long project, was planned to mitigate the flooding hazard by the river which passes through different parts of the city. But, now the river has become a possible breeding ground of mosquitoes.