Cuttack, July 8: The state government today said they were taking adequate measures to contain the dengue outbreak that has assumed serious proportions, especially here and in Keonjhar distrcit.
"We are taking all possible measures to combat the situation. Anticipating a rise in the number of cases following the rain, we have increased the number of beds at the dengue ward at SCB Medical College and Hospital from the existing 50 to 75," health minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak said.
Nayak, who took stock of the arrangements at SCB's special dengue ward, said the health department had formed a team of doctors for surveillance and treatment of dengue patients at SCB.
The health department had also asked doctors at the hospital's casualty and outpatient department to ensure that patients with suspected dengue symptoms were thoroughly checked and admitted without any delay, Nayak said.
He said: "The patients suffering from dengue will be provided with emergency treatment and free blood tests at SCB Hospital."
Senior SCB officials said they had already prepared a contingency plan to increase the number of beds at the dengue ward even further in case of an extra flow of patients from Jajpur, Kendrapara and nearby districts.
"At present, 35 patients, including 14 each from Cuttack and Keonjhar, four from Bhadrak, two from Jajpur and one from Angul, are undergoing treatment at SCB," the hospital's emergency officer B.N. Moharana said.
The outbreak of dengue in Cuttack has become a major concern for officials of the district administration and the civic body. The fresh spell of rain that lashed the city today also affected the sanitation and dengue awareness drives at Jagatpur, which has reported 27 cases of dengue, the highest in the city.
The authorities are concerned that the low-pressure induced rain would aggravate the situation, especially in Cuttack. There are concerns of water stagnation in containers and junk material, which could become breeding sites for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that cause dengue.
"We had earlier emptied containers, bottles and other unused materials during two days of operation. But, we will have to conduct a thorough re-check and carry on with the drive at Jagatpur after the weather improves," health officer P.K. Pradhan said.
The dengue outbreak at Jagatpur has also forced the people in other localities under the municipal corporation to use repellents and nets to prevent mosquito bites.
"There is panic following the outbreak and we are worried for our children. The Aedes aegypti mosquito bites during the day. Kids can get the virus in schools as well," said Dolmundai resident Omprakash Das.
The continuous downpour since last night has left several low-lying areas, including Badambadi, Pithapur, Rajabagicha, Jhanjirmangala, Gahmandia, Friends Colony, Samant Sahi, Rausapatna, waterlogged.
"Though it was raining heavily since morning, water started to enter our locality around 1pm. It was for the third time that the city has witnessed waterlogging conditions this monsoon," said Samant Sahi resident Sandip Mohapatra.
