BJP Stages ‘Mosquito Net Protest’ Against Dengue Menace In Bhubaneswar; Govt Says Cases Less Than Last Year

Bhubaneswar: Even as the BJP took to the streets with mosquito nets to protest against the rising dengue cases in Bhubaneswar, Public Health Director Niranjan Mishra on Tuesday said that positivity rate is low compared to last year.

“Last year, 10,000 test were conducted and 700 people had tested positive for Dengue by this time. Of the 18,000 tests conducted so far, 550 have been found positive,” he said.

He further said that no cases have been reported from 10 districts while the number has not touched double-digit in 12 districts. “While seven districts have reported less than 40 cases, the number of infected is slightly higher in Khurda district,” he said.

Mishra further said that all necessary steps are being taken to bring the situation under control. “Municipal corporations, municipalities and panchayat samitis have been asked to create awareness among the people,” he added.

According to available data, 336 have tested positive for dengue in Khurda so far with Bhubaneswar reporting more than 200 cases.

Meanwhile, leaders and workers gheraoed the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) office by wearing the masks of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Mayor Sulochana Das. They also wrapped themselves in mosquito nets to protest against the BMC’s lackadaisical attitude in tackling the menace.

The BJP leaders have threatened to lodged a complaint against Bhubaneswar Mayor and BMC commissioner for the two suspected dengue deaths in the city.

“The Mayor had assured that there would be no flooding and dengue cases in the city before the onset of Monsoon. Bhubaneswar has turned into a hotspot in the entire country. The Mayor has denied deaths in the city due to dengue. They need to go to hospital and collect accurate information. Data collected by us indicate that 700 people have so far tested positive for the disease,” said president of BJP’s Bhubaneswar district unit Babu Singh.

He also warned the the party would intensify the agitation in coming days if the BMC fails to take any concert steps to arrest the cases.

A seven-year-old child from Khandagiri area allegedly died of dengue while undergoing treatment at a private hospital while a 62-year-old woman succumbed to the disease in the Capital Hospital. The Health Department, however, is yet to confirm these as cases of dengue deaths.

Notably, the BMC Commissioner has ordered to intensify the awareness campaign, mainly in dengue hotspot areas. A team of doctors and health workers will visit every house in their locality to make people aware of dengue and how to keep it at bay.