Lagatar24 Desk
Ludhiana: In a significant move to ensure accurate diagnosis of dengue, the Ludhiana health department has directed all hospitals, clinics, and laboratories to confirm dengue cases solely through the ELISA test. The directive comes in response to the common practice of declaring dengue based on low platelet counts, which is not a definitive indicator of the disease.
District epidemiologist Dr. Sheetal emphasized the importance of the ELISA test, stating, “While dengue often causes a drop in platelet counts below 1.5 lacs, this alone is not sufficient for a diagnosis. A simple CBC test cannot confirm dengue; the ELISA test is mandatory.”
To date, Ludhiana has recorded 37 dengue cases this year. In response, the health department has instructed private medical facilities to cap the ELISA test charges at Rs 600. Additionally, both government and private hospitals have been ordered to establish separate dengue wards to manage the rising number of cases. The civil hospital, along with sub-divisional hospitals, has already set up 13 dengue wards, accommodating 97 beds in total.
The local administration is also stepping up preventive measures by planning to release gambusia fish into rural water bodies. This fish species is known for its ability to control mosquito populations by consuming larvae, thereby reducing the spread of dengue and malaria.
Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney has tasked block development and panchayat officers (BDPOs) with identifying suitable water bodies for this initiative. “We have procured gambusia fish for dengue and malaria prevention and have already released them in 80-85 water bodies across the district,” said Ludhiana Civil Surgeon Dr. Jasbir Singh Aulakh.
These measures reflect the health department’s commitment to combating dengue in Ludhiana by ensuring accurate diagnosis and implementing proactive mosquito control strategies.
