JAIPUR: The state may be grappling with dengue menace but surprisingly Ajmer has registered a decline in number of such positive cases this year.
As per the government data, the number of positive cases has gone down from 283 to 80 this year.
The fall in dengue cases is attributed to the fact that the health department is rejecting 'positive' cases which are conducted through rapid diagonstic test (RDT).
In the state, so far, 6,800 persons have been diagnosed with dengue till date this year.
Government doctors are using RDT rampantly for dengue diagnosis even though the health department has clearly mentioned that enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Elisa) is the only confirmatory test for dengue.
Earlier, health department officials in Ajmer confirmed that there were 283 dengue cases in the district. But, later when the health department directed them to send number of those patients only who were tested positive by using Elisa machine. Ajmer's health authorities sent the report again and this time they sent only 80 cases, which were confirmed as dengue positive cases as they were tested by using Elisa machine.
"There is a guideline of National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, in which it is specifically mentioned that the only confirmatory test for dengue is Elisa test. Rapid card test is not a confirmatory test for dengue. We can say that those tested positive for dengue by using rapid card test as dengue probable but not confirm dengue cases," said, Dr Ravi Prakash Mathur, additional director (rural health) health department.
In Ajmer, out of 283 dengue cases, 203 were those who were tested positive for dengue through rapid card test. Now, the health department has denied accepting them as dengue cases. The health department officials have directed all joint directors and chief medical health officers to send separate report of dengue cases, who were tested positive by using Elisa test and RDT.
There are 50 Sentinel Surveillance Hospital (SSH) in the state, which have Elisa technique for testing dengue samples.
Health department officials also pointed out that majority of private hospitals diagnose dengue by using RDT.
In government hospitals, the Elisa machines are not available in all government hospitals. With only 81 Elisa machines in its fold in the state, health department has declared only those patients which are tested positive for dengue through Elisa are confirmed dengue cases, while others, who are diagnosed with dengue through RDT are not confirm dengue cases but they are categorised as suspected dengue cases.
At a time when the Elisa test facilities are not available in all government and private hospital, the use of RTD cannot be prevented. In such a situation, it is difficult to find actual number of dengue cases in the state.
As per the government data, the number of positive cases has gone down from 283 to 80 this year.
The fall in dengue cases is attributed to the fact that the health department is rejecting 'positive' cases which are conducted through rapid diagonstic test (RDT).
In the state, so far, 6,800 persons have been diagnosed with dengue till date this year.
Government doctors are using RDT rampantly for dengue diagnosis even though the health department has clearly mentioned that enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Elisa) is the only confirmatory test for dengue.
Earlier, health department officials in Ajmer confirmed that there were 283 dengue cases in the district. But, later when the health department directed them to send number of those patients only who were tested positive by using Elisa machine. Ajmer's health authorities sent the report again and this time they sent only 80 cases, which were confirmed as dengue positive cases as they were tested by using Elisa machine.
"There is a guideline of National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, in which it is specifically mentioned that the only confirmatory test for dengue is Elisa test. Rapid card test is not a confirmatory test for dengue. We can say that those tested positive for dengue by using rapid card test as dengue probable but not confirm dengue cases," said, Dr Ravi Prakash Mathur, additional director (rural health) health department.
In Ajmer, out of 283 dengue cases, 203 were those who were tested positive for dengue through rapid card test. Now, the health department has denied accepting them as dengue cases. The health department officials have directed all joint directors and chief medical health officers to send separate report of dengue cases, who were tested positive by using Elisa test and RDT.
There are 50 Sentinel Surveillance Hospital (SSH) in the state, which have Elisa technique for testing dengue samples.
Health department officials also pointed out that majority of private hospitals diagnose dengue by using RDT.
In government hospitals, the Elisa machines are not available in all government hospitals. With only 81 Elisa machines in its fold in the state, health department has declared only those patients which are tested positive for dengue through Elisa are confirmed dengue cases, while others, who are diagnosed with dengue through RDT are not confirm dengue cases but they are categorised as suspected dengue cases.
At a time when the Elisa test facilities are not available in all government and private hospital, the use of RTD cannot be prevented. In such a situation, it is difficult to find actual number of dengue cases in the state.
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