Editorial . . . . . .
The dengue outbreak is a concerning development and a warning to all other non-affected districts of J&K as well. According to the information provided, out of the 18000 suspected dengue cases, 5295 had been confirmed in the Jammu division. Additionally, GMC Jammu and other hospitals operate Fever clinics for the diagnosis and treatment of suspected dengue patients. Epidemiologist/State Malariologist, J&K, gave a detailed presentation on dengue status and control strategies in a review meeting. Preventing an epidemic of the disease is the main problem facing the UT Health Department. The most effective way to stop the spread of the dengue virus is to raise community awareness of the need to guard against mosquito bites and stop the spawning of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. It will be vital that people abide by the health department’s recommendations for disease prevention. Dengue can be avoided by making sure there is no standing water inside or around a home, office complex, educational facility, or in unused tyres or flowerpots, using a mosquito net when sleeping, even during the day, and wearing long-sleeved clothing to guard against mosquito bites. Disease symptoms include high fever, headache, joint pain, redness of the eyes, discomfort behind the eyes, muscular pain, rash on the skin, and gum bleeding. Disease surveillance is therefore essential to guaranteeing prompt medical attention and averting mortality in serious instances. In order to stop a spike in cases, the hospital should notify Municipal Corporations, district administration, and other authorities so they can take any necessary precautions at the administrative and community levels and enhance fever surveillance. The World Health Organization states that metropolitan and semi-urban areas with tropical and subtropical climates are where dengue can be found. The prevalence of dengue has rapidly increased globally, putting approximately half of the world’s population at risk. Although between 100 and 400 million infections are thought to occur annually, more than 80% are often minor and asymptomatic. A sudden spike necessitates a thorough examination that should highlight any gaps and brand-new problems in comparison to the years’ worth of notable success in containing the spread of dengue. In order to avoid mosquito incubation, municipal authorities, town committees, and panchayat bodies must take proactive steps to perform fogging or source reduction, which involves emptying open water storages that may serve as Aedes aegypti mosquito breeding grounds. The fact that such initiatives are frequently observed, usually following the breakout of diseases, points to a major gap that must be closed by putting in place an efficient system that is promptly activated by the relevant authorities. According to official statements and various reports, there is little community understanding of disease prevention. Most other parts of the UT have low levels of awareness as well. Such facts also speak to the efficacy of the current vector-borne disease awareness campaign, which emphasizes the role that communities must play in the prevention of these illnesses. Despite advancements in clinical management, managing an outbreak once it has already started will remain a difficult task unless community-wide awareness is created for taking preventative measures, such as preventing mosquito breeding and bites in relation to vector-borne diseases like dengue and malaria. The clinical handling of the crisis in UT by advancing Epidemiology teams from GMCH and all impacted districts is anticipated to yield the desired outcomes. Effective dengue prevention requires creative community awareness.
The J&K government should provide a sufficient number of functional beds, as well as the necessary supplies and medications, for treating dengue cases. To stop the mosquitoes that spread the disease from reproducing, fogging campaigns should be increased. In this regard, Rajinder Sharma, the mayor of Jammu, has also taken the required steps in the city of Jammu to prevent the spread of the disease further, demonstrating his care for and dedication to public health. Given that this has been a cyclical occurrence, vector-borne diseases are not surprising. The degree of severity also depends on the countermeasures implemented, such as maintaining a clean environment and fogging mosquito breeding grounds. The other is the medical department’s readiness to handle any emergency that results from a likely outbreak.