One more tests positive for dengue in state capital

Nineteen people in the state capital have been affected by dengue so far, with one more case being reported on Wednesday. Three blood samples were sent for testing on the day and one was detected positive for dengue. The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC)'s city health officer R C Rout said one among the 19 was critical and the others were stable. "The impact remains limited to ward number 13, Nabard Colony, Chandrasekharpur BDA colony, Nalco phase I and II colonies and Nilamadhab Basti. Going by the list of affected persons, we haven't come across any case from a new area," said Rout.Sanitary workers visited the affected zones to prune bushes, clear tyres with water stagnating in them and remove coconut shells. Saliasahi was also covered. "We have been taking all measures to check the spread of the disease. Over the past three days, we have seen the Aedes larva inside several homes. This is dangerous. We have advised the health workers to pay a visit to each and every house in the affected areas," Rout said. The BMC has also decided to shift to a new chemical in the affected localities to kill the mosquitoes. "To neutralize the Aedes larva, we have decided to use a new chemical spray called 'pyrethrum'. Earlier, we would use 'temephous', a less effective chemical that is available easily, including in private stores," said a government officer. So far, the civic body has inspected 1,500 households in the affected localities and cleared out stagnant water left in refrigerators, pots and plastic packets. "Since locating the larva is a strenuous exercise, we have decided to engage more people. This will help us contain the disease," Rout added.People in several wards were themselves seen spreading awareness on dengue dos and don'ts. Besides, the BMC has launched a sensitization programme involving self-help groups and ward Kalyan Samiti members. "We have prepared leaflets with the dos and don'ts. A squad has been formed to detect places where water has been lying stagnant for more than a week," said a BMC officer. Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena is also taking stock of the dengue situation on a daily basis.

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