The special ward at SCB Medical in Cuttack for treatment of dengue patients. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 20: The Orissa government today made it clear that dengue was still far from assuming epidemic proportions in the state.

“There is no cause for panic. There is no need to declare an epidemic. We have set up a special ward and created 40 beds in SCB Medical College, Cuttack, for the treatment of dengue patients,” said health minister, Prasanna Acharya responding to the concern of the members over the issue in Assembly.

This despite the fact that two more dengue deaths were reported in the state today. With these, the total number of dengue-related casualties in the state has gone up to 19. Both deaths were reported from Angul district, the worst affected by the disease.

Yesterday, 201 samples were tested in SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack and Capital Hospital at Bhubaneswar. Out of the 186 samples tested in SCB, 80 samples were found to be dengue positive. However, not a single case of dengue was reported in Capital Hospital. So far, 482 samples have been found positive out of a total of 1,163 samples tested in the state.

Expressing concern over the spread of dengue, Opposition members today demanded that the state declare dengue as an epidemic and announce an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the each of the victims’ families.

Making a scathing attack on the government, Opposition chief whip Prasad Harichandan said that though the first case of dengue was reported in 2010, the state had failed to take any steps to check the spread of the disease. “Thousands of people have been affected. It should be declared as an epidemic. Water-logging is the main cause. Though Rs 500 crore has already been spent for improvement of the drainage system in Bhubaneswar, nothing has happened.”

Replying to an adjournment motion, Acharya said: “Nineteen people have died of dengue. All possible steps have been taken to contain the spread of the disease.”

Saying that no other state has declared dengue as an epidemic, Acharya said: “In 2010, 2,568 dengue cases were reported in Gujarat, 2,285 in Karnataka, 2,597 in Kerala, 4,512 in Punjab and 6,259 in Delhi. However, these states did not declare an epidemic. At present, 465 districts all over the country have been affected in the country.”

Dengue ward at SCB

The authorities of S.C.B Medical College and Hospital have opened a special ward for dengue patients on the first floor of the casualty and trauma care centre.

The 40-bed special ward was opened yesterday. This came after Orissa High Court directed the state government to intensify operations to tackle the dengue outbreak and set up a ward for dengue patients at SCB.

“A special ward for dengue patients was opened at the casualty and trauma care centre building yesterday. Around 40 beds have been provided and we will extend the bed capacity by another 60 soon,” said SCB superintendent D.N. Moharana.

Moharana said that besides the 40 patients in the special dengue ward, another 70 to 80 dengue patients are undergoing treatment at medicine and paediatric wards in the hospital.

The dengue patients in the special ward have been provided with mosquito nets and mosquito coils and repellents are also being sprayed.

An advocate committee constituted by the high court also visited the dengue ward today to take stock of the arrangements made for the patients.