Government forms Task Force for dengue control

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has formed a Task Force of medical experts for surveillance and initiation of control measures in view of the recent increase in dengue cases in different districts.
The Government is also set to equip more hospitals at the district level with facilities for testing and diagnosis of dengue. Presently, the three Government medical college and hospitals at Cuttack, Burla and Berhampur have facilities for carrying out blood tests for dengue. These would be extended soon to the Capital Hospital at Bhubaneswar and district headquarter hospital at Koraput. Health Secretary Anu Garg today held a review of the situation as reports of dengue outbreak in Angul district have begun to gain steam. While unofficial sources have put the number of afflicted persons, particularly in the industrial belt of the district, at over 30 in the last fortnight, the department has come out with confirmation on five cases. Three of them are from Sundargarh district while two others are from Angul. The Department has, however, admitted that 24 suspected dengue patients have been treated at private hospitals.