The dengue ward and a doctor treats a patient suffering from the disease at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. Pictures by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, July 30: Over 200 persons have tested positive for dengue and more beds have been made available at the SCB Medical College and Hospital here.

On an average, around 25 to 30 new cases are being reported every day, prompting SCB Medical College and Hospital to increase its bed capacity at the special dengue ward.

An SCB official said the ward, which had initially been made operational with 30 beds, was now equipped with provision for 130 persons. At present, 93 persons are being treated at the ward. Two additional wards on second floor of the casualty and trauma care department have been readied to treat more dengue patients.

“The dengue ward is overcrowded. Many patients have been accommodated on floor. Keeping in view the spur in dengue cases, we have made additional provision to accommodate more patients,” said SCB superintendent Shayama Kanungo.

Kanungo said a special dengue screening facility had been made at the outpatient department (OPD), where patients with dengue fever symptoms would be counselled.

Official sources said that so far, 167 dengue patients had been admitted to the ward and 75 persons were discharged.

In another development, additional chief secretary-cum-development commissioner Injeti Srinivas today reviewed the dengue situation in the city and asked the Cuttack Municipal Corporation to purchase 80 hand sprayers and 30 fogging machines, including the truck-mounted ones, to fight the menace.

“We will shortly procure necessary equipment to intensify the ongoing operations,” said civic body commissioner Nihar Ranjan Mohapatra.

The civic body will also distribute mosquito nets to people at various slums in the city. “We will rope in 500 accredited social health activists (asha) to carry out awareness in various parts of the city,” said collector Girish SN.

The corporation has swung into action to contain the dengue outbreak by launching fogging drives at two localities — ward No. 21 and 23 — from where maximum dengue cases have been reported.

“Fogging is being done at least twice in both the localities. Besides, we have launched the drive at other 15 wards from today,” said city health officer P.K. Pradhan.

Pradhan said fogging was being conducted during evening hours at 15 new wards, while efforts would shortly be initiated to cover all wards in the corporation limits.

The decision to cover additional wards was taken after many people had expressed resentment over lack of measures on part of the civic body to check the winged menace.

“Fogging is being conducted at Kumbhar Sahi and Kathagada Sahi. But, no such measure has been undertaken so far at parts of Choudhary Bazaar, which is near these localities,” said Satya Das, a local resident.

Besides, school students, National Cadet Corps (NCC) volunteers and other social organisations have also joined the dengue awareness drive at various localities.

A special documentary on dengue, how it is caused, its symptoms and treatment is also being screened at various wards and emphasis is being given on bush-cutting and spraying of larvicide oil.