Dengue menace grips Odisha, Khordha emerges hotspot with over 500 cases

Rising cases of dengue across Odisha have become a matter of concern. The number of positive cases of the vector-borne disease has reached around 2,000 in the State so far.

Khordha alone has registered around 500 positive cases of dengue and it is followed by Sundargarh, Rourkela, Bolangir and Cuttack.

The State government has reportedly swung into action along with the district administrations to contain the spread of the disease. 

Union Tribal Affairs minister Jual Oram’s wife Jhingia Oram succumbed to dengue on Saturday while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar. The tragic development triggered concerns about the outbreak of dengue in several quarters.

“We are active at the places where dengue outbreak has been witnessed. With the help of the Municipal Corporation, preventive measures are being taken at those places. Efforts have been made for proper diagnosis and treatment of the dengue affected persons,” said Odisha Public Health Director Dr Nilakantha Mishra.

“As many as 13 positive cases were detected out of 192 tested samples in Bhubaneswar on Friday. We have formed two special wards for the treatment of dengue-affected patients. While 14 patients are being treated in one ward, there are no patients in the other ward. The conditions of all the patients undergoing treatment at the hospital are stable. We have also reserved 20 more beds for dengue patients,” said Dr Dhananjay Das, Deputy Superintendent of Capital Hospital.

“Outbreak of dengue in Bhubaneswar is under control than last year. However, we have not taken it lightly. Mosquito oil is being spread at regular intervals. We are also cleaning stagnant water, continuing fogging and spreading awareness among the people. We request people to consult doctors immediately in case of fever,” said Bhubaneswar Mayor Sulochana Das.