Dengue testing counter opens at Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: Amid sharp rise in dengue cases in the city, a special testing counter became operational at the Capital Hospital here on Sunday.

Dr. Laxmidhar Sahoo, Director of Capital Hospital, said the aim is to enhance crowd management as a substantial number of persons suspected of having dengue seek testing at the hospital. Dr. Sahoo noted that the introduction of the dengue testing counter is expected to alleviate long queues.

Reports indicate that the hospital is witnessing a daily influx of approximately 600 individuals having symptoms of dengue infection for testing purposes.

Health officials recommended that residents in close proximity to the urban Community Health Centers should consider visiting these facilities as a primary option for medical attention.

The Health Department has planned to establish two additional testing centers at Patia CHC and IRC Village Urban PHC.

Areas such as Acharya Vihar, Jayadev Vihar, Nayapalli, Bhimatangi, Unit IX, and Unit VI, among others, remain hotspots for dengue transmission.

In an effort to raise awareness about the disease, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation has been engaging with residents, particularly those in slum areas, through its ‘Ghara Ghara Samparaka Abhiyan’ campaign. Thousands of breeding sites for mosquitoes have been eradicated in various parts of the city to curb the disease’s spread, according to BMC officials.