The Samdrup Jongkhar district hospital has seen 24 dengue cases in less than two months time since the first case was detected on June 6. This is a sharp increase from just five cases recorded last year.
The spike in the dengue cases has left the hospital staff worried. The Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Kezang Dorji, described the number as “huge”. However, he said the high detection could be because of the hospital’s improved diagnostic system.
“It could be because our surveillance system is sensitive and our clinicians are more aware of the disease, which is further facilitated by the rapid diagnostic test,” said the CMO.
He also added it is important to note that all the cases were detected through rapid diagnostic test, and that it has to be confirmed through ELISA and RT-PCR tests, which are done at Royal Centre of Disease Control (RCDC) in Serbithang, Thimphu.
“Samples were collected from all patients and it has been sent it to RCDC,” added CMO Kezang Dorji.
He also shared the district hospital has launched an investigation to find out what caused the drastic rise in the number of dengue cases. This is the first time the hospital has done something like this. The findings are expected to be out in a couple of month’s time from now.
Of the 24 cases detected, three are still being treated at the hospital. The rest 21 have been cured and discharged.
