With the increasing number of people coming for dengue fever tests, the Sarpang hospital, which is a grade I Basic Health Unit (BHU) has run out of dengue rapid testing kits. The hospital has carried out 309 dengue test, from January till date.
Last year, the hospital carried out 122 dengue fever tests; however, not a single positive case was detected.
Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease and the symptoms are mild and high fever, severe headache, pain in the eyes, joint pains and rashes.
According to the District Medical Officer (DMO), with people aware of dengue fever, more are coming to the hospital for a check-up.
“People have come to know about dengue fever outbreak, so even people with fever are coming to the hospital. We don’t carry out dengue test to all people with fever. We ask their travel history,” Tashi Dorji, the hospital’s DMO, said.
To meet the shortage of dengue rapid testing kit, the hospital has asked for additional kits from Phuentshogling.
Meanwhile, the hospital detected 25 positive dengue fever cases so far. Of which, 23 were imported cases, meaning the patients contracted the fever from outside Sarpang. The remaining two were secondary infected indigenous cases.
“Dengue infected patients travelled to Phuntsholing and Samtse. They came back after spending from one night to week. They came to the hospital for a check-up and were diagnosed with dengue fever,” the DMO said.
All the reported cases have recovered and were discharged from the hospital.
Awareness programmes on dengue fever are also being carried by the vector-borne disease control program in Gelegphu. The officials are visiting homes and advising people on protecting stored water and to keep their surroundings clean. People are also advised to use mosquito repellants or nets.
