The number of dengue and swine flu cases has been on the rise in various districts of the state. Ludhiana district has witnessed maximum number of cases, although the number is lower than the last year.
The state has witnessed two deaths due to swine flu and three due to dengue this year. While both patients suffering from swine flu were from Ludhiana, those who lost their lives to dengue belonged to Kapurthala, Sangrur and Muktsar.
Dr Dipak Bhatia, project programme officer and project coordinator, Integrated Disease Surveillance Project, Punjab, said: “The state received its first swine flu patient in 2009 from Jalandhar. But cases are now being reported from almost all districts, particularly Jalandhar and Ludhiana. We are taking preventive measures and have issued instructions to the civil surgeons of all districts to send the samples for testing to the Virology Laboratory at the PGI, Chandigarh. These tests can also be conducted at the National Centre for Disease Control, Delhi, and Religare Laboratory.
