CUTTACK: With monsoon intensifying, the vector-borne disease dengue seems to be spreading its tentacles alarmingly in the State as increasing number of patients from various districts are pouring in the SCB Medical College and Hospital (SCBMCH) here. As per reports, 14 districts have been affected by the disease with Cuttack remaining on the top. Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur and Balasore are the worstaffected districts.
By July 17, out of total 1,963 blood samples tested for dengue, as many as 143 were found positive. Of 143 positive cases, 56 are alone from Cuttack district and the rest 87 are from 14 districts in the State. Similarly, out of 56 cases, 26 have been reported from different rural pockets of the district with highest nine persons affected in Nirgundi, Manguli and Bilteruan of Tangi block. The rest 30 cases are from Cuttack’s urban areas with Jagatpur registering the highest nine. So far, 89 dengue patients have been admitted to SCBMCH and of which, 37 are alone from Cuttack.
While 68 patients have been discharged, two succumbed to the mosquito borne disease, according to SCBMCH record. On Wednesday, the officials of SCBMCH had sent 81 blood samples to laboratory for examination and 10 tested positive for dengue. The positive cases include four from Cuttack, three from Jajpur and one each from Angul, Khurda, Nayagarh districts, informed Dr Sriprasad Mohanty, Assistant Nodal Officer, SCBMCH Dengue Ward.
Local, however, have attributed the rise in dengue cases to the unhygienic condition in the localities facilitating the breeding of aedes mosquitoes. While heaps of garbage are lying unattended across the city, no step has been taken for bush cutting and clearing of water-logging, they alleged.