Calcutta, Aug. 11: The state government today admitted for the first time that the number of people suffering from dengue this year in and around Calcutta was much higher than the official count.

Minister of state for health Chandrima Bhattacharya said 80 cases of dengue had been recorded with the health department from Calcutta and its surrounding areas till August 7. Of them, 64 were in Calcutta Municipal Corporation (CMC) areas, 14 in North 24-Parganas, including 11 in Salt Lake, and one each in Hooghly and Nadia.

“There are more cases as we don’t always receive reports of patients being treated at private health care units. Since dengue is not a notified disease, private hospitals and doctors are not bound to report cases to municipal and civic bodies or the health department,” Bhattacharya said.

She said the health department was requesting private health care institutes and diagnostic laboratories to report cases of dengue.

“But it is not possible for us to force anyone to submit a report,” she added.

“We had called 25 private laboratories — almost 75 per cent of Calcutta’s diagnostic centres — yesterday and asked them to submit reports of positive dengue cases,” the minister said.

The Telegraph had earlier reported how CMC officials were in denial mode on the spurt in dengue this year.

The civic body had contested a report on a suspected dengue death last month.

Atin Ghosh, the mayor-in-council member in charge of health, had said a legal notice would be served on the hospital where the 48-year-old woman was admitted for “triggering a false alarm”.

Bhattacharya today said dengue had become an “endemic disease” in Calcutta and stressed on proper awareness and preventive measures.

An endemic disease, according to the state’s public health officials, is one whose prevalence is greater in a particular area than a larger geographical area.

“To fight the disease in the area where its prevalence is more, we need more specific measures than the less-affected areas,” a public health official said.

Doctors said anybody having fever along with skin rashes, head and body ache should undergo a dengue test.

“It’s important to conduct a platelet-count test. In some dengue cases, the platelet count dips to dangerously low levels,” said critical care expert Subrata Maitra.

“Dengue is usually a self-limiting disease and there is no specific treatment. It needs supportive therapy,” he added.

The doctors said that in some cases, haemorrhagic dengue and shock syndrome could turn serious. (See chart)