Suspected Dengue Cases in Bhubaneswar: Entomologists from Health Dept Visit North Zone

Bhubaneswar: Entomology experts and senior officials of the Health and Family Welfare Department today visited the slum pockets and various colonies of Niladri Vihar and Sailashree Vihar area under the North Zone limits of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC).

The visit was under the directives of BMC authorities following reports of dengue and similar symptoms being found in the area. The entomologists under National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme and BMC visited the areas and held discussions with community members.

After visiting the affected localities, the entomologists have discovered absence of proper awareness among the people i.e. water seen in pots being used to provide water for cattle, water pots scattered over here and there, plant pots and the experts have also found mosquito larvae in some pots.

Being a mosquito with urban characteristics, dengue mosquitoes Aedes aegypti lay their eggs in clean water which are found around urban homes in discarded paper cups, coconut shells, tyres, air-coolers, flowerpots etc. Urban slums and sites under construction often contribute in the spread of the mosquitoes.

However, after the visit the experts opined that unless the diagnosis of the affected people is done thoroughly, one cannot say that the people are suffering from dengue. They also suggested that the affected people should first go through the COVID tests and then tests for dengue. For ensuring the presence of dengue the ELISA tests would be done for all suspected persons under the North Zone of BMC.

The experts also suggested that unless the proper diagnosis of the affected people is done in Capital Hospital or at the Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) the disease could not be termed as dengue. They have also requested the locals not to panic and strictly adopt the preventive measures and keep the vector borne diseases at bay.

Meanwhile, the BMC authorities have ensured frequent visits of Sanitation experts to the area, awareness generation and cleanliness drives. BMC Commissioner Sri Sanjay Kumar Singh has directed both the BMC and Health and Family Welfare Department officials to ensure visits of Health and ASHA workers, Sanitary Inspectors, Ward Officer and Community Organisers and conduct awareness drives.

The BMC Commissioner has ordered frequent spraying of disinfectants in the suspected zones and also drive to de-water the mosquito larvae producing sites as a preventive measure.

It can be mentioned here that while the city is continuously working on a mission mode for testing, vaccinating and treating the COVID-19 related cases, the civic authorities are also giving equal emphasis to monitor and control the suspected cases of vector borne disease in the North Zone of BMC. The senior officials of Health and Family Welfare Department and BMC are making joint field visits to assess and monitor the situation.

It is also learnt that after the field visit the entomologists of National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme also met the Zonal Deputy Commissioner (North) of BMC and discussed the issue with him.