Angul, Aug. 2: Panic has spread in the periphery of the Talcher-Angul industrial belt following detection of two dengue cases.

About 20 persons from Kalamchuin, Gobara, Giranga and Naraharipur, who are suspected to be dengue positive, have been rushed to various private hospitals in Bhubaneswar. Local doctors collected about 600 samples from the affected villages in the past three days to detect dengue.

Doctors of Central Hospital of Mahanadi Coalfield Limited at Talcher first detected a suspected dengue virus at two villages of Kalamchuin and sent them to a private hospital in Bhubaneswar.

“We found two positive cases three days ago and immediately referred them to a Bhubaneswar-based hospital,” said Dr Sanjay Dash of Central Hospital.

Many other patients suffering from fever are rushing to the hospital and have been put under observation, Dash said.

Confirming that one dengue patient came last week from Giranga village, doctors of National Aluminium Company found four other suspected cases from the township and its periphery yesterday.

“We have sent the blood samples to Cuttack,” said chief medical officer of Nalco Hospital P.K. Majhi.

Chief district medical officer R.N. Behera said: “We are aware of the situation. Medical teams are rushing to the affected villages of Talcher and Angul and are collecting samples for testing at Cuttack. A medical camp has been set up at the worst affected village, Kalamchuin, and people are being sensitised about how to prevent dengue.”

Sensing the gravity of the situation, district authorities had written to the state health department to immediately send a medical team to the affected areas to assess and control the situation, official sources said. However, so far, no medical team has arrived here.