Mohali, October 3

Concerned over the reports that some hospitals were indulging in spreading dengue scare to earn more from patients suffering from viral fever, the Health Department today directed the private hospitals and labs to report any suspected or confirmed dengue case immediately so that remedial measures could be taken without any delay.

Civil Surgeon Dr Adarshpal Kaur asked private hospitals to cooperate with the district Health Department in fight against dengue and other vector-borne diseases.

She said private hospitals could not confirm the dengue fever unless they possess the ELISA test facility. Simple card-based testing may lead to false results, she said.

The hospitals need to send all the suspected samples to the Health Department for confirmation, she asserted.

There are three labs for confirmation of dengue fever at government hospitals in Mohali, Kharar and Dera Bassi. — TNS