BERHAMPUR: ONE person died and 11 others tested positive for dengue in Ganjam district on Tuesday. While the total number of positive cases has gone up to 86, two deaths have been officially reported. While five persons tested positive for the disease in Girisola, three were from Bhaliagada, two from Kuluapalli and one from Rambha, said CDMO Dr Manoj Kumar Behera. One Y Jagga Rao (51) of Girisola, who was undergoing treatment for dengue in a private hospital at Visakhapatnam, died.
Rao was suffering from fever since July 16 and was undergoing treatment in the neighbouring State where he died after battling the fever for 10 days. This is the second dengue death in the district. The first victim was seven- year-old boy R Charan of the village, He too died while undergoing treatment at Visakhapatnam.
Of the total positive cases, 60 alone are from Girisola, the CDMO said, adding that a health team is visiting Girisola and taking stock of the situation. Pathetic sanitation system in the village has led to the outbreak of the disease and measures should be taken to clear heaps of garbage and cover ditches filled with stagnant water.
Chikiti BDO and other departments concerned have been apprised of the situation. The CDMO said another matter of worry is that almost all households have dumped their waste materials on roofs and waste floating on rain water is a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes, he added. The district administration convened two high level meetings after the detection of dengue and asked Asha, anganwadi and health workers to educate people on different means to destroy mosquito breeding grounds.