PMCH and NMCH officials on Sunday said Patna Municipal Corporation was not fogging the hospital campuses properly.

Doctors said it was necessary to conduct fogging at the hospitals where dengue patients were visiting for diagnosis because the disease could spread further if mosquito Aedes aegypti bites a healthy person after biting a dengue patient.

Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) deputy superintendent Sudhanshu Singh said so far, fogging had not been conducted at the health hub. “Patna Municipal Corporation is supposed to conduct fogging at the hospital,” he said.

Last year, a few employees associated with PMCH’s microbiology department, which conducts dengue-related tests, fell victim to the virus.

Some doctors of the department alleged laxity on the part of PMC because fogging was not done on the hospital campus.

Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH) superintendent Santosh Kumar said fogging was never done at the hospital.

“Patients and doctors visiting the hospital are constantly living under the threat of falling prey to not only dengue but other mosquito-borne diseases. Dengue, malaria, kala-azar, and other such diseases might spread if fogging is not done properly,” said Santosh.

A senior doctor with the NMCH said: “There are many open drains at the hospital, which are perfect breeding ground for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the vector of the disease. Last year, then superintendent of NMCH Sahiv Kumari Prasad had written a letter to the PMC, asking for fogging at the hospital but the civic body did not take any step.”

Shailesh Kumar, the executive officer of Bankipore circle, however, said: “The PMC is conducting fogging at the hospital after every three to four days,” said Kumar.

On the number of cases being reported so far, Prashant Kumar, the epidemic control officer at the civil surgeon’s office, said: “So far, 25 cases have been reported from Patna. In cluster, cases of dengue have been reported from only two places. While from Transport Nagar, 10 cases have been reported. From Pirmohani, four cases came to the fore. Apart from this, 28 cases have been reported from the districts and other states.”

Experts believe Sunday’s rain could jack up the number of dengue cases.

Diwakar Tejaswi, a noted physician in Patna, said: “Rainfall brings down the temperature. A temperature of 30°Celsius is perfect for the growth of the Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes. After rain, stagnant water could be found at many places making it perfect for Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes to breed. People should not allow any kind of water accumulation in and around their houses to prevent themselves from dengue,” said Tejaswi.