Dengue toll reaches 3; Barbil schools shut for 3 days

Cuttack/Barbil: The toll due to dengue mounted to three this year when a patient undergoing treatment at the SCB hospital in Cuttack died yesterday.

The patient, identified as Tuna Naik of Angul district, was being treated at the ICU of the SCB hospital after being shifted from the Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar.

As many as 54 patients affected by the vector borne disease are undergoing treatment at the SCB hospital of whom two are stated to be critical.

On Friday, a dengue patient died at Kenojhar district headquarters hospital while another death was reported from the Barbil Community Health Centre.

The Keonjhar district collector ordered schools, including privately owned ones located in Barbil municipal area, to be closed for three days.

Out of 1240 blood samples collected in Kenojhar, 434 persons have tested positive.

An emergency meeting was held at the residential office of the Cuttack district Collector to discuss dengue situation in the city.

It was decided that a mobile health team will undertake health check-ups at Jagatpur. Besides, ASHA and Anganawadi workers will create awareness among the public about the vector-borne disease.

The Collector directed blood bank officials present at the meeting to provide blood platelets free of cost to patients.

Among others, Cuttack Mayor, CMC Commissioner, SCB Superintendent and Cuttack Sadar sub-collector were present at the meeting.