Dengue hits plateau in Jammu; curve shows marginal decline: State Malariologist, J&K

Jammu, Oct 28: Dengue has reached its peak in Jammu region and now its curve has started flattening, demonstrating a marginal decline.

Jammu division has recorded over 4500 cases and has also reported one death during 2024, as of now. Out of this count, Jammu district has registered around 63 percent cases.

“Situation is not alarming. We are well in control of the situation. All the preparations are well in place. As per previous few years’ experience, cases decrease after peak in October. There has been only one death so far as against 6 deaths in the same period during last year. Even in this case, the patient reported to hospital during an advanced stage of disease,” stated Dr D J Raina, State Malariologist, J&K, while responding to Greater Kashmir queries about updated status of dengue cases in the region.

2023 had seen ten deaths on account of dengue across Jammu division. Six deaths had occurred during the period from January, 2023 to October, 2023.

“A comparison of week-wise data shows that it reached its peak in the week ending October 13, 2024. The curve has started flattening with 745 cases in week ending on October 13, 2024 followed by 736 cases in week ending on October 20 and 734 cases on week ending on October 27, with a marginal decreasing trend,” Dr Raina explained graph of dengue cases, using comparative statistics.

He asserted that the situation should not be read as alarming. “Cases are marginally on the lower side as compared to the statistics during the same period last year. This is despite the fact that samples have been collected at block level also,” Dr Raina stated.

So far, 4549 dengue cases were registered this year across the Jammu division till October 27, 2024.

Jammu district recorded 2852 cases, followed by Samba and Kathua districts registering 496 and 411 cases respectively, during this period.

In all, 25,660 tests were conducted this year till October 27, 2024 against 34816 tests during the same period in 2023, while confirmed cases till the same date last year were 4693.

Explaining reasons behind lower number of tests conducted so far this year, Dr Raina said, “The reason for lower number of tests is that because of extensive awareness activities this year, more people are taking adequate precautions and thus a lesser number of people are getting symptoms and thus fewer people are getting tested.”

As per statistics, 18 cases were registered on October 20; 137 on October 21; 143 on October 22; 62 on October 23; 158 on October 24; 116 on October 25; 81 on October 26 and 37 cases on October 27, 2024 across Jammu region.