Cuttack: Dengue patients continue to turn up at SCB Medical College and Hospital here with 681 more people affected by the disease admitted for treatment since August 5.

In the past 26 days, on an average more than 26 cases were tested positive at the hospital daily, taking the total number of dengue patients admitted for treatment from 317 to 998. As many as 216 dengue patients have been admitted in the past seven days.

Dengue has spread to 17 of the 30 districts, while over 65 per cent of the patients from the coastal districts.

Last year, nearly 2,315 dengue patients had been cured and discharged after treatment from the special dengue ward at the hospital.

While the death toll had remained five, the ward was closed down after there were no turnout of patients in December.

The special ward was made operational with the number of beds increased from 100 to 150 keeping the large turnout of patients last year in view.

While blood samples of 4,114 persons had been tested since May 26, more than 24 per cent of them tested positive and admitted for treatment.

"While the death toll has remained three, 886 patients have been cured and discharged after treatment by Friday," said Dr Sriprasad Mohanty, assistant nodal officer for treatment of dengue cases. He said 113 patients (12 in ICU) were now undergoing treatment. Emergency treatment and free blood tests are being provided to patients suffering from the disease. At the casualty and outdoor departments, patients with suspected dengue symptoms are being thoroughly checked and admitted without delay.

Of the 998 dengue patients, over 640 were from six coastal districts such as Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack and Puri. The other patients have been from eleven other districts - Nayagarh, Khurda, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Angul, Keonjhar, Boudh, Sambalpur, Ganjam, Rayagada and Sundargarh as well as neighbouring states such as Bengal and Bihar.

The maximum number of dengue patients has been from Cuttack district with a share of 482 cases, official records indicated. According to experts the aedes aegypti, a mosquito which spreads dengue, can breed in clean water. So, the water in air-cooler, water pot in the puja room and container behind the refrigerator should be changed and cleaned every day. Waste materials containing water should also be removed from the localities.