CM seeks better coordination among depts to tackle dengue

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday asked the Health, Industries and Urban Development departments to maintain better coordination among them to tackle dengue, which is spreading alarmingly in the state.

While reviewing the dengue situation in the state at the secretariat yesterday, the chief minister asked the concerned officials to expedite the cleaning of industrial areas and residential areas to curb the spread of the vector-borne disease which has gripped many parts of the state.

Besides, Patnaik also asked the officials to intensify the dengue awareness drive in the state, sources said.

As many as 1,574 dengue patients have been identified in the state with the maximum number of patients belonging to Barbil in Kenojhar and Jagatpur Industrial area in Cuttack. While 678 patients are undergoing treatment, 504 persons have been cured from the vector-borne disease and three persons have died so far due to the disease, the sources added.

Talking to newsmen after the review meeting, Health minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, said, “The rate of increase in the number of dengue patients in Barbil is now declining. There are problems in Jagatpur Industrial area and Industries department is looking into it.”

“A state-level task force has been formed to tackle the dengue menace in the state,” the minister added.