Officials visit the dengue positive patients at SCB in Cuttack. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Aug. 29: Patients suffering from dengue keep visiting SCB Medical College and Hospital from various parts of the state.

Three persons, including two from Angul and Jajpur districts, admitted to the dengue ward at SCB earlier this week, died of suspected dengue yesterday.

Earlier, sources said, two persons had died of dengue at SCB.

At present, over 160 dengue patients are being treated at SCB that has become the nodal centre for dengue treatment.

All the dengue positive patients have been admitted to the special dengue ward that had initially started with 30 beds soon after dengue outbreak in Cuttack in July.

Though the bed capacity at the dengue ward has been increased to 180, the authorities are contemplating to make provision for additional beds keeping in view the dengue outbreak in Angul, Jajpur, Dhenkanal and other districts.

From Cuttack, 873 dengue positive cases were reported, 261 from Angul, 153 from Jajpur and 350 from Khurda till August 27.

Of the 873 cases from Cuttack district, 700 cases were registered from the city. Earlier, around 20 to 30 cases were being reported on a daily basis, which has now come down to eight to 10 each day.

“There has been a drop in dengue cases from Cuttack, while cases continue to be reported from Angul, Jajpur, Khurda and other districts. The patients are being admitted to SCB. Of the total patients, admitted to the dengue ward, only 19 persons are from Cuttack, while rest of the cases are from outside the district,” said collector Girish S.N.

Girish said the SCB authorities had been asked to increase the bed capacity on the top floor of the casualty and trauma care centre to accommodate more patients.

Besides, there are plans to start semi-intensive care unit at trauma centre for advanced treatment of the dengue patients, Girish said.

In another development, the fresh spell of rains triggered by the low pressure over the Bay of Bengal is likely to worsen the situation, as there is a possibility of accumulation of water that can ultimately become breeding sites of aedes mosquitoes spreading the vector-borne disease.

“The regular enforcement of sanitation and spraying of larvicide oil and fogging drive are on at most of the wards on a daily basis,” said city health officer P.K. Pradhan.

Though there has been a drop in the dengue cases, sporadic cases are still being reported from the city. Adequate measures are being taken to ensure that temporary collection of water is checked soon after the rains, Pradhan said.