MGM Medical College in Dimna confirmed five new dengue and three fresh Japanese encephalitis (JE) cases on Monday, reflecting an interesting trend. Dengue patients are steel city residents while JE ones are from more rural zones, two from Seraikela-Kharsawan and one from Dalbhumgarh in Ghatshila subdivision.

Of the 34 blood samples tested at the medical college's microbiology department, 20 were for dengue and 14 for JE.

"Of 20 suspected dengue cases, five got confirmed," district officer for the Centre's Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) Sahir Pall, who monitors the vector-borne diseases, said.

With this, confirmed dengue cases since this August in Jamshedpur has gone up to 125, with one turning fatal.

Pall added the eight patients of dengue and JE, admitted to Tata Main Hospital, MGM Medical College and Hospital, Kantilal Gandhi Memorial Hospital and Bramhanand Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, were doing fine.

"There is nothing to worry or panic," Pall told this correspondent.

On eliminating Aedes aegypti, the mosquito that spreads dengue, Pall said they needed to keep up the momentum of creating awareness among people not to let water accumulate anywhere, including tyres, pots and buckets, craters and drains.

On Culex family mosquitoes that spread JE, he said they were present in paddy fields, which is why the disease strikes the rural belt more often.

East Singhbhum civil surgeon S.K. Jha said they would extend their dengue action plan in four zones, Mango, Jugsalai, Parsudih and Sakchi, till "the last case of dengue is found".

"Our anti-larval operations in the city are on since the past three weeks and will go on vigorously," Jha said.

"We will speak to Jusco for a joint drive to eliminate the Aedes menace from the city tomorrow or the day after (Tuesday or Wednesday)."