Dengue spurts in Odisha; 40 % recorded in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: With dengue spreading its tentacles to various districts across Odisha, the capital city has recorded around 40  per cent of the total affected persons in the State.

As per the Health Department, while 5,427 blood samples were sent for examination this year till July 29, 712 tested dengue positive, including 292 in Khorda district. Of the 292 affected, 275 persons are from Bhubaneswar alone with Chandrasekharpur remaining on the top with 191 affected persons followed by Nayapalli and IRC with 60 cases each.

The department officials said Odisha has less number of affected persons in comparison to other States. Last year, the dengue virus had come from West Bengal. This year, it has come from Vizag.

“Since many Odias work in Vizag and the medical expense there is too high, they come back to Odisha for treatment when they suffer from fever. This has led to an increase in dengue cases in Odisha. The dengue cases will further rise in the state in August and September,” said an official.

Meanwhile, the Health department is undertaking various awareness drives and steps to curb the dengue menace in the capital city.