Bhubaneswar: The number of dengue cases in the Capital city has crossed 200- mark with the state’s tally surpassing 1,000, even as the vector-borne disease has taken many districts in the state into its grip. According to sources, Bhubaneswar recorded a total of 211 cases till July 27 (164 cases in July only) while the entire Khurda district has recorded 467 such cases also including some cases from other districts, out of 11,931 tests conducted so far.
With the southwest monsoon fully set in and the state experiencing continuous rainfall, the threat of waterborne diseases looms large. However, the state government said that it has taken measures to contain the spread of seasonal ailments. The state government has recently directed all district Collectors and municipal commissioners to take the measures required to control diarrhoea malaria and dengue outbreaks during monsoon. About the direction, Director of Public Health Nilakantha Mishra said control rooms for waterborne diseases at all the district headquarters hospitals (DDHs) have been made active and special combined control rooms have been opened for dengue cases. “Officials are working as per the direction of the Health and Family Welfare (H&FW) department and are submitting their reports,” Mishra said adding that like the cases of dengue, the number of diarrhoea cases is also rising in the state for which people have to remain vigilant.
More number of such cases has been reported from Sundargarh district, he mentioned. The health officials along with others are carrying out awareness programmes and doing surveys at doorsteps, said the Public Health director. He further said that as the cases of snakebites are increasing, an adequate amount of anti-venom injections have been made available at the hospitals. “We are also keeping a close eye on the diphtheria cases and the health workers are conducting surveillance in the nearby areas where such cases are reported. The suspected persons are given anti-diphtheria serum doses. We also have asked the people to stay alert for such diseases,” said Mishra. Meanwhile, IMD said that the heavy rainfall to lash many districts until July 31.
ARINDAM GANGULY, OP