Dengue Situation In Odisha Alarming: Health Director

Bhubaneswar: In the wake of the death of a woman who died of dengue at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar on Monday, the State Directorate of Health Services said the disease has assumed alarming proportions in Odisha.

Talking to the media here on Thursday, Director, Health Services, Braja Kishore Brahma said 20,000 sample tests were conducted across the state of which 48 have been tested positive till Wednesday whereas 10,000 samples tests were conducted last year of which 45 were tested positive.

The highest number of dengue patients has been reported from Khurda district where eight persons have been tested positive, he added.

He said the Health department had taken up sources reduction measures in association with the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and removed stagnated water from the tyres and unused bottles. Besides, the Health department and the Urban Development department had taken the initiative of cleaning the clogged drains and applied anti-larvicide.

Confirming that the death of a patient at KIMS was due to dengue, Brahma said instructions have been given to the private hospitals to inform the Health department about the admission of patients afflicted with dengue virus.