Bhubaneswar: With as many as 39 patients testing positive on Saturday, dengue cases are on a rapid rise in Keonjhar district.
Official sources said of the 2,229 blood samples tested in the district so far, 723 have tested positive for the vector borne disease. The killer disease has claimed four lives till date, the sources added.
Unconfirmed sources said two fresh cases were reported in Barbil area on Saturday. While one patient was admitted to the Barbil government hospital, the other was referred to SCB medical college in a serious condition.
The industrial belts of the State - Barbil in Keonjhar district and Jagatpur in Cuttack district - have been identified as the worst affected areas of the State. From Jagatpur area alone, as many as 117 patients are undergoing treatment at the special dengue ward in SCB medical college and hospital in Cuttack. A total of 158 patients have been admitted to the government-run referral hospital.
To take stock of the situation, Union Minister of state for health Faggan Singh Kulaste on Saturday visited the dengue ward of SCB medical college and instructed doctors to closely monitor the condition of patients. The minister said a team will be constituted soon to analyse the dengue menace in the State.
“The State government is completely responsible for the outbreak. Had it taken preventive steps in time, the situation would have been under control. A team of doctors will arrive soon and assist the doctors in managing the situation,” he stated.
On the other hand, chief secretary AP Padhi discussed the issue with Collectors of all dengue-prone districts through video conferencing at the secretariat today and instructed them to take immediate steps to contain the disease.
Yesterday, Union Tribal Affairs minister Jual Oram had met Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda and requested him to assist the State in preventing and taking curative measures for managing the situation.
Responding to the request, Nadda spoke to Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak and discussed the dengue situation. He assured Nayak of full cooperation and Central Government support in its efforts.