8,600 dengue cases in Punjab

Dengue cases in the state are heading towards an unprecedented spike this year, as 8,600 cases have been reported so far, which is almost three times the figure reported in the corresponding period last year. Only 3,200 cases surfaced till mid-October last year. The situation this time is alarming because the number of cases is doubling in just one week. According to data compiled by the Health Department, the state has reported 8,597 cases, while 12 persons have died due to the vector-borne disease. The Health Department, with the help of the Abohar Municipal Corporation, launched a door-to-door campaign to check mosquito breeding in houses. The disease control teams have been increased from 25 to 33. In all, four districts have reported more than 1,000 cases. Bathinda tops the chart with 1,414 cases, followed by Mohali (1,264), Hoshiarpur (1,099) and Amritsar (1,019). Pathankot has reported 955 cases.