OHRC notice to govt as minister reviews dengue situation

Cuttack: Odisha Human Rights Commission today issued notice to the government asking it to file action taken reports on measures taken by it to contain spread of dengue.

"At least 426 patients across the state have so far tested positive to dengue virus this year", state's Health Minister Atanu Sabysachi Nayak told reporters after visiting areas where cases have been reported.

While 36 patients are currently undergoing treatment in SCB Hospital, 11 are in two government hospitals of Keonjhar district, the minister said.

Meanwhile, taking up a petition filed by human rights activist and advocate Nishikant Mishra, the OHRC expressed concern over reports of spread of dengue in Keonjhar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Puri and Khurda.

The Commission asked collectors of these districts to file reports on dengue situations in their respective districts within two weeks.

Similar notices were also issued to health secretary and urban development secretary asking them to look into the matter seriously and take pro-active measures to combat dengue.

Both the secretaries and superintendent of Cuttack Hospital have also been asked to submit their action taken reports to the Commission within four weeks.

During the day, Nayak visited S C B Medical College and Hospital here and Keonjhar where the vector-borne disease has assumed an alarming form.

Nayak said special task forces have been formed in all the three state government medical colleges.

He said the government hospitals have been asked to treat the dengue patients free of cost.