Chandigarh---    Punjab Government has established Rapid Response teams in each district for investigating the dengue cases. Testing of Dengue is being done free of cost at 15 established SSHs (Sentinel Surveillance Hospitals) in the State. i.e. GMC Amritsar, Patiala, Faridkot, Civil Hospital Bathinda, Fatehgarh Sahib, Ferozepur,  Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Mansa, Moga, Sangrur and SAS Nagar.

Disclosing this here today Mr. Surjit Kumar Jayani Health & Family Welfare Minister, Punjab said that dengue ward have been established at each district and sub-divisional hospitals. Each bed in these wards is provided with mosquito net for prevention of spread of the disease. He said that supportive treatment is being given free of cost to dengue cases in the Government hospitals Minister said that Blood component Separators have been installed at all 20 district level hospitals to provide blood components to serious cases. He said that the vector control is being done with insecticides and larvicides spray in and around the houses of confirmed dengue cases.

Mr. Jayani has also appealed to the social organizations to launch an awareness campaign to stop spread of Dengue. He also appealed to the people to clean their surroundings and houses especially water coolers etc. Minister has also issued directions to the Deputy Commissioners to check the stagnant water in the low laying areas and spray insecticides and larvicides. Mrs. Vini Mahajan Principal Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Department Punjab said that  758 dengue cases have been reported till 9^th October, out of which on patient have died in the state. She added that 6 Aphresis machines have been installed at Civil Hospital Amritsar, Bathinda, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Sangrur and Mohali for provision of platelets to very serious cases of dengue.