Dengue Cases Rise In Doda And Across Haryana Districts

Health experts are investigating a rise in dengue cases in Doda while Haryana reports a sharp increase in infections across several districts this month.

On Tuesday, 13 October 2026, health experts arrived in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district. They are studying an unusual spread of dengue. More than 190 laboratory-confirmed dengue patients have been admitted to the Government Medical College in Doda. This mountainous region rarely sees many cases of the disease. In response, district officials asked for help from the Indian Council of Medical Research’s National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV). This is the top national body that studies virus outbreaks. A five-member team from Pune, led by Dr Qaiser Farooq Dar, visited the hospital and the town’s most affected areas. They looked at the local laboratory and spoke to patients. Meanwhile, in the state of Haryana, the health department reported 614 dengue cases by 12 October. This is a 22 per cent jump in just one week. While Haryana has not seen any deaths from the virus this year, the number of people getting sick is rising quickly in several districts.

Why it matters

Dengue is a viral infection spread by the Aedes mosquito. It causes high fever and severe body pain. It can be dangerous if a patient's blood platelet count (the cells that help blood clot) drops too low. Usually, this disease is more common in warmer, plains areas with more people. Seeing a sharp rise in a high-altitude place like Doda is worrying. It suggests that the mosquitoes which carry the virus are surviving in new places. For ordinary families, this means new health risks in areas that were once considered safe. In Haryana, the spread shows how the virus moves through both big cities and smaller towns. Most cases happen in October and November. This is because the weather is right for mosquitoes to breed in stagnant water around homes and workplaces. For workers and students, an infection means missing many days of work or school. It also puts pressure on government hospitals to provide enough beds and testing kits for everyone who needs them.

Tracking the spread

• Panchkula has become the worst-hit district in Haryana with 77 cases, moving ahead of Gurugram which has 71 cases.

• Other districts like Jhajjar and Rewari are also seeing more patients, with 55 and 50 cases reported respectively.

• The ICMR-NIV team has collected samples from Doda to identify exactly which type of the virus is making people sick.

• There are now 27 government testing laboratories working across Haryana to help people get diagnosed quickly.

• Doda’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Vinod Sharma said the health department is working with civic bodies to contain the spread.

• Health officials are asking residents to clear standing water from containers and coolers to stop mosquitoes from breeding.

What's next

The scientific team will now study the samples they collected in Doda. They will submit their report to the Jammu and Kashmir health authorities soon. These findings will help the government decide on the best way to stop the virus from spreading further in the mountains. In Haryana, officials expect the number of cases to keep rising until the weather becomes much cooler. Cold temperatures usually stop mosquitoes from being active. Until then, the main question is whether the public health system can keep up with the rising demand for care. Families will need to stay alert and seek medical help as soon as a high fever starts. The government must also ensure that every district has enough medicine and staff to treat patients without delay. This is especially important for children and the elderly who face the greatest risk from the disease.