Dengue situation in J-K 'alarming', says Congress

The Jammu and Kashmir Congress today termed the dengue situation in the state "alarming" and asked the government immediately take all measures to save lives.
According to official reports, over 1,300 people were screened for dengue in the state since July, out of which tests of 248 were positive while 310 reports were still awaited.
In addition, three people died of swine flu in the last two months, official reports stated.
"The (dengue) situation is very alarming than what is being reported in the media.
"The disease has spread in various parts of the city and other areas of Jammu region, but the authorities are in deep slumber and adequate measures have not been taken so far to check its spread and deal with the situation," state Congress' chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma said in a press release.

He accused the state health department of being "callous" in dealing with the "alarming situation".

"The government need to wake up and immediately understand the gravity of the situation and take all measures required in this regard to save human lives," Sharma said, and alleged that "no serious efforts are being made, in this regard."
"A large number of patients are being referred to Ludhiana, Amritsar and various other private hospitals outside the state," he claimed.
The number of patients in government hospitals and private clinics reveal that the disease is spreading very fast in urban and semi-urban areas but government efforts in this direction are not visible even in the cities, Sharma claimed.

He said deaths in the state due to swine flu is also a "matter of concern".
"Before the situation goes out of control, the government should wake up and involve the entire machinery and resources to deal with the situation, otherwise the government would be solely responsible for the loss of precious lives," Sharma said.