DODA: Dengue cases continue to rise in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district, with more than 190 laboratory-confirmed cases requiring hospitalisation reported at Government Medical College (GMC) Doda, prompting authorities to seek assistance from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV).
A five-member team of scientists from ICMR-NIV, Pune, led by Dr Qaiser Farooq Dar, Officer-in-Charge of ICMR-NIV North Zone, Jammu and Kashmir, visited the microbiology laboratory at GMC Doda and several dengue hotspots across the town.
Officials said the team examined admitted patients, reviewed their test reports and collected samples for further investigation to strengthen surveillance and help identify areas reporting the highest number of cases.
Dr Dar said the district had witnessed a sharp rise in dengue cases compared with historical trends, particularly concerning in a mountainous region traditionally considered less prone to the disease.
“The situation prompted ICMR-NIV to step in and provide assistance. We have collected samples for further examination and visited hotspots reporting the maximum number of cases,” he said.
Dr Dar added that the team’s findings would be submitted to the Jammu and Kashmir health authorities, which would decide on further action based on the assessment.
Meanwhile, Doda Chief Medical Officer Dr Vinod Sharma said the health department was working in coordination with civic bodies to contain the spread of the virus.
“To further strengthen our efforts against dengue, we sought assistance from ICMR and NIV,” Sharma said.
The scientific assessment is expected to help authorities strengthen surveillance and guide further measures to tackle the rising number of dengue cases in the district.
