Cuttack: The dengue menace in the state is showing no signs of slowing down with 55 people being admitted to SCB Medical College and Hospital here with symptoms of dengue in the past eight days.

Over the past week, more than seven persons tested positive for dengue at the hospital daily on an average, taking the total number patients admitted for treatment to 84 since June 18. Around 71 per cent of those who tested positive were from coastal districts.

Last year, 2,315 patients were discharged after treatment from SCB's special dengue ward. While the death toll stood at five, the ward was closed after there were no turnouts in December.

The special ward was made operational again on June 18 following instructions of the health department and the number of beds increased from 100 to 150 keeping in view the large turnout last year.

Eighty-four persons have tested positive for dengue among 478 blood samples tested this year so far.

"Two persons have died, while 63 patients were discharged after treatment by Sunday," said Sriprasad Mohanty, assistant nodal officer for dengue cases at the hospital. He said 21 patients, including one in the intensive care unit, were undergoing treatment at the hospital.

The hospital is also providing emergency treatment and free blood tests to patients suffering from dengue. At the casualty and outdoor departments, patients with suspected dengue symptoms are being checked and admitted without delay.

Of the 84 patients, 60 are from the six coastal districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack and Puri. The others are from Nayagarh, Khurda, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Angul, Keonjhar and Sundargarh.

"The maximum number of dengue patients has been from Cuttack district with 35 cases, followed by eight from Balasore and five from Bhadrak," Mohanty said.

Of the 35 patients from Cuttack district, 12 were from Cuttack city.

Mohanty said the aedes aegypti, the mosquito that spreads the dengue fever, can breed in clean water. So, the water in air coolers, pots in puja rooms and containers behind refrigerators should be changed and cleaned every day. Waste material containing water should also be removed from localities, he said.

The Cuttack civic body has already launched a mosquito-repelling drive to check the spread of dengue in and around the city.