Cuttack, Sept. 14: The flow of dengue cases at SCB Medical College and Hospital here continues with the healthcare facility having treated more than 600 people this season.

In the past week, on a daily average more than 24 patients were tested positive for dengue at the hospital.

'The hospital is providing emergency treatment and free blood tests to patients coming with dengue-like symptoms. Patients with dengue symptoms are being thoroughly checked and admitted without delay at the casualty and outdoor departments,' hospital superintendent Shyama Kanungo said.

Last year, 11 dengue deaths were reported from the SCB. Anticipating a rise in the number of cases following the rainfall this year, the hospital has already increased the number of beds in the special dengue ward to 92.

Of the 642 dengue patients who were admitted to SCB since June 14 this year, 562 patients have returned home following full recovery.

'At present, 71 patients are undergoing treatment at the dengue ward, while six are in the intensive care unit,' said assistant nodal officer for treatment of dengue cases Sriprasad Mohanty.

Around 89 per cent of the dengue patients are from coastal districts such as Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Cuttack, Khurda and Puri.

'An increasing number of cases have been reported from Balasore. In the past three days, 55 of 107 samples tested positive were from Balasore,' said Mohanty.

Of the 131dengue patients from Cuttack district, 37 were from Cuttack city.

The Cuttack Municipal Corporation had launched a special sanitation drive in the first week of July to prevent breeding of dengue-causing mosquitoes. 'As part of the drive, we are still continuing with intensive bush cutting, clearance of blockages in drainage channels and spraying of larvicide in the drains in areas prone to mosquito breeding,' city health officer Sarat Dash said.

'Besides, our focus has been on the areas from where dengue cases have been reported. In these areas, we have started anti-mosquito fogging in addition to spraying of larvicide,' he added.

The city health officer added that dengue cases had been reported from Sikharpur, sectors VI and XI of Markatnagar, Mangalabag, SCB Medical College campus, Ravenshaw University campus, Jagapur, Bhagatpur, and Buxi Bazaar.<>The civic body had constituted a special squad to monitor the sanitation drive. With an additional commissioner as nodal officer, the special squad includes city health officer, junior engineers and sanitary inspectors.

'As part of the awareness drive, we are appealing to the people to use mosquito nets and ensure that water is not stored in any open place,' chairman of the civic body's standing committee for health Ranjan Kumar Biswal said.