Deadly dengue fever is showing no sign of subsiding in mineral rich Keonjhar district where number of affected people has crossed 250 mark while the disease brought 10 other districts of Odisha under its grip.
Mining town
Barbil, a mining town in Odisha’s Keonjhar district, accounts for a majority of dengue cases. In view of dengue outbreak in Barbil, the State government has opened special dengue wards at Barbil Community Health Centre (CHC).
“We suspect that many people left coolers unclean after using the appliance throughout the summer season. Female mosquitoes mainly of the species Aedes aegypti those transmit dengue virus found perfect condition to spread,” said Madan Mohan Pradhan, nodal officer of National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme.
Dr. Pradhan said apart from Barbil, the situation in other districts was under control and the population affected by dengue virus was small.
Erratic rainfall
He pointed out that the erratic rainfall experienced following arrival monsoon was another reason behind sudden spurt in Dengue cases. Usually, Odisha witnesses sporadic cases of Dengue spread during the month of August and September. It seemed the event occurred in advance this year. Dr. Pradhan ruled out water logging in mined out areas to be reason behind spread of female mosquitoes.
400 people affected
There have been cases of dengue affected people in Cuttack and Bhadrak district. Besides, Dengue cases have been reported from Jajpur district. More than 400 people have so far been affected by dengue in Odisha.
During past five years, 2014 is the worst year as far as Dengue outbreak is concerned. As many as 6433 people were affected by dengue in 2014 while nine patients succumbed. In 2012 and 2013, six persons each had died. As many as 7132 persons were affected by dengue in 2013.
Dr. Pradhan said: “The civic body in Barbil town has taken steps to clean surroundings. Besides, fogging in affected areas has been intensified. We hope the situation would improve in a week.”
