A concerning surge of chikungunya cases is sweeping through Punjab, raising alarms amidst ongoing battles with dengue. This double threat is placing immense pressure on health officials and sparking public health concerns.
According to data from the Punjab health department, the state has already registered over 495 chikungunya cases. This marks the second-highest outbreak since 2017.
Let’s break down the numbers: Last year, the state saw only 224 cases. In 2017, there were 201 cases, followed by 25 in 2018. The numbers dipped to 19 in 2019, and surprisingly, no cases were reported in 2020. However, the situation worsened again with 144 cases in 2021, 469 in 2022, and a significant spike to 2,072 cases in 2023.
This year, the district of Sangrur is the hardest hit, with 113 cases. Barnala follows closely with 104 cases. Patiala, already grappling with a dengue outbreak, has reported 74 chikungunya cases. This highlights the complex health challenges the region is facing.
Chikungunya, like dengue, is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. And this is the part most people miss… Both diseases share similar symptoms, making accurate diagnosis tricky. However, chikungunya is characterized by severe joint pain and inflammation, which can last for weeks or even months after treatment.
A senior health official noted that surveillance efforts have significantly improved this year. They stated that they have tested around 9,500 samples for chikungunya, compared to only 1,215 during the same period last year.
But here’s where it gets controversial… The Union government issued a notice to Punjab’s state nodal officer in October after a Mansa resident reported that nearly every second household in the district was affected by chikungunya. The complainant alleged inadequate mosquito-control measures, including a lack of fumigation.
Furthermore, several districts are facing accusations of underreporting both dengue and chikungunya cases. Official data reveals that Mansa has reported 48 confirmed cases out of 407 tests conducted. Sangrur has confirmed 113 cases from 713 tests, indicating a positivity rate of approximately 15%. In contrast, Amritsar has tested 1,304 people and reported only 18 cases, reflecting a much lower positivity rate.
What do you think about the potential underreporting of cases? Do you believe the current measures are sufficient to control the spread of these mosquito-borne diseases? Share your thoughts in the comments below!