Rising cases of dengue and chikungunya are leading to an alarming situation, as many cases remain unreported.
According to the district civil surgeons' office, the total number of dengue cases (confirmed as well as suspected) in Patna stands at 281 as against 916 across the state, and that of chikungunya 60 against 183 across the state. Sources, however, said the actual number is not known, as private health facilities are not reporting dengue cases to the government. According to a recent Union government notification, dengue has been made a notifiable disease, meaning confirmed or suspected cases have to be reported by both government and private health facilities.
But only a few private hospitals in Patna are doing so. Because of this mismatch, sources said, fewer dengue (suspected) cases are being reported to the health department, resulting in the government's failure to curb the rising numbers.
"The government can take action against the private health facilities, including private practitioners, and owners of private laboratories for not reporting dengue cases," a State Health Society official looking after the vector-control programme said on condition of anonymity.
"However, neither the civil surgeons' office in the districts nor the state programme officer at the vector control disease office has taken any action so far." The office confirmed that only a few private health facilities were reporting dengue cases in Patna. Civil surgeon G.S. Singh confirmed only a few private health facilities were reporting dengue cases to his office. He said his office was enquiring about the status of cases from private health facilities daily.
But he had no answer why no action had been initiated against private health facilities for not reporting cases.
The state programme officer, vector-control diseases, M.P. Sharma, had an even more bizarre explanation. "Madam, you don't know the norms. Even though the Centre has made dengue a notifiable disease, it cannot be implemented until and unless it is placed before the Cabinet and approved," he said.
Sources, however, said the additional director of the State Health Society, Pradeep Kumar Jha, had written to Sharma on October 4 informing him about the Centre's decision and asking him to report both suspected and confirmed cases. The Telegraph has a copy of the letter.
Moreover, preventive measures, which could have checked the spread of both vector-borne diseases, are not up to the mark.
The vector-control disease wing of the health department claimed to have sprayed larvaecide to check the spread Aedes aegypti mosquito. However, sources in the department admitted that larvaecide had been sprayed in a few localities.
The office of vector control diseases wing confirmed to The Telegraph that larvaecide treatment was conducted in select localities such as Kankerbagh, Gandhi Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Gai Ghat, Gardanibagh, Mahendru, Raja Bazaar, Sheikhpura, Danapur Cantonment and Buddha Colony.
Sources in the civic body said Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) had failed to conduct fogging properly in most localities. PMC officials pleaded helplessness.
One of the officials in the New Capital circle said on condition of anonymity: "The 59 old hand-held fogging machines have become defunct. Further, only one of the four vehicle-mounted fogging machines are functional. All the four circles are using it on a rotational basis. This is why we are not able to conduct fogging properly," the official said.