GURVINDER SINGH gurvinder@thestatesman.net Kolkata, 31 July Dengue claimed its first victim this monsoon when a minor girl from Dignal village…
GURVINDER SINGH
gurvinder@thestatesman.net
Kolkata, 31 July
Dengue claimed its first victim this monsoon when a minor girl from Dignal village in Durgapur, 165 km from Kolkata, succumbed to the deadly disease.
The vector-borne disease had officially claimed 11 lives in the state last year, though unofficial estimates suggest the figure could be much higher.
The girl who was suffering from unknown fever died on 24 July, almost a month after the health officials were first alerted about the spread of a mysterious fever in the village.
A two-member team from Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine (CSTM) that visited the area and collected 35 blood samples have found 21 cases of dengue, said senior health officials.
Of the 151 cases of dengue detected in the past seven months, the state capital tops the list with 66 cases, followed by North 24-Parganas (24), South 24-Parganas (13) and Nadia (10).
Though officials claim the situation is under control, they don’t hesitate to accept that a mere 18 samples were found positive during the same period last year, before the numbers began to shoot up in the first week of August.
“Dengue being a contagious disease can spread rapidly if affected people travel from one place to another," said Ms Nandita Basu, director of CSTM.
The government has already identified 28 municipalities, including the KMC, that er vulnerable to dengue, and began awareness campaigns.
“The campaign has been on since January, with our officials visiting households and educating people about preventive measures,” said Mr Atin Ghosh. Member, mayor-in-council (health).
The Director of Health Services (DHS) Dr BR Satpathy said: “We have intensified our efforts and increased the numbers of laboratories to examine blood samples and advanced testing technique is being used for more concrete and quick reports.”
Meanwhile, Mayor Sovan Chatterjee today released a documentary film to create awareness about dengue and other vector-borne diseases.
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has spent Rs 50,000 to make the film.
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