By official count, the number of the dengue-affected in Salt Lake is up to 299. The admission came after fresh reports were supplied to the municipality by the state heath department. According to the report, 102 cases of dengue were identified in the township between September 1 and 14, making the total number of patients shoot up to 299. The municipality had earlier announced that 197 people were affected by the vector-borne disease in the township. The figure was taken to be much less than the reality.

In the first week of September, 46 residents were down with dengue. In the second, 56 more were added to the list. Data thereafter has not been declared yet.

In the first meeting that took place in August between officials of the municipality and the state health department, it was decided that a meeting would take place every week to review work regarding the spread of awareness on dengue in Salt Lake. But the meeting never took place.

Civic chairperson Krishna Chakraborty said that the condition was under control. “But that doesn’t mean that we will relax. Work is still going on. The dengue rapid action force is doing its duty. Spraying of pesticides in different areas of the township will continue as before. We have received Rs 10 lakh from the urban development department. It will be spent on buying 10 fogging machines, mosquito repellent oil and other necessary items,” she said.

Search for mosquito expert

The civic body has also decided to employ an experienced entomologist (zoologist who focuses on insects) to guide the civic body in controlling vector-borne diseases. The person would train the men who spray mosquito repellents round the year and advise the civic body. The decision was taken at a meeting last Friday.

“So far we would only stress on using mosquito repellents from reputed companies but clearly that is not enough. It is necessary to have an entomologist to advise us about mosquitoes,” said the civic chairperson.

Chairman-in-council Ashesh Mukherjee, who has been a member of the Public Health and Sanitation standing committee since 2000, echoed Chakraborty. “We have realised that it is not enough to buy the best quality oils. We need to be informed about how and when to spray them too. An entomologist would guide us on tackling vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue and chikungunya,” he said. “Last year, officers from the Calcutta Municipal Corporation trained our workers on identification of mosquito larvae and methods of spraying repellents but there is more to be learnt.”

The entomologist would be a full-time employee of the municipality and would work throughout the year. Advertisements for recruitment would be published after the Pujas.

Matri Sadan, the EE Block hospital run by the civic body, would soon have the infrastructure to test for vector-borne diseases. At present the blood samples collected here have to be sent to National institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases in Beleghata for tests. The Telegraph Salt Lake had highlighted in its cover story dated September 14 how, because of this, blood reports were taking 10-12 days to reach the patient.