Mrunal Manmay Dash

Sundergarh: The district of Sundergarh seems to have become a hotbed for Dengue mosquitoes to breed which is reflected in the steep rise in the number of persons affected by the vector-borne disease.

As per reports, out of 329 suspected blood samples from people in the district, 56 samples have been tested Dengue positive in last few weeks.

The health department has zeroed in on Khatkurbahal area under Kutra block of the district which accounts for 54 out of the total 56 infected persons. The other two infected persons belonged to Sundergarh and Biramitrapur area.

While all the infected patients have been quarantined in a special ward of the District Headquarter Hospital (DHH), three of them whose health condition deteriorated have been shifted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Bhubaneswar for treatment.

Alarmed by the unhygienic sanitation in Khatkurbahal village, which is said to be the prime reason behind rapid breeding of Dengue mosquitoes, the district administration has launched a sanitation drive in the area.

Replying on a query on the rise in the number of dengue cases, the Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) said, “General public are being advised to use mosquito nets while resting and also not roam outside in bare body. Sanitation and medical teams have already been mobilised in the area to screen the suspected dengue cases.”

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