Published 17:44 IST, October 16th 2019
Dengue epidemic: Dengue cases rise by 100 in Bihar's capital
Dengue cases have been rising at a rapid rate in Patna, Bihar. The state was also recently affected by floods after which the dengue cases have increased
The number of dengue cases has gone up by 100 in the past two days, Sanjay Kumar, Principal Secretary Health, in Bihar said on Tuesday. While interacting with the media, he said, "In the last 2 days, dengue cases have gone up by 100. As per experts, 30 to 40 per cent Aedes mosquito larvae breeding inside houses. We are appealing to people in Patna to not allow water to stand. So far, there has been no mortality due to dengue."
"In the past two days, another 100 cases have been registered. The National Institute of Malaria Research conducted a survey here and found out that approximately 30 to 40 per cent of Aedes mosquitoes are there inside the houses," he said. Kumar added, "We are continuously appealing to people not allow water to stay or collect even inside the house. Aedes mosquito breeds and evolves in freshwater and bites during the day time only. The health department has constituted 75 teams to use anti-larvicidal in different parts of Patna. As the temperature, in general, will fall, the outbreak of dengue will also decline or decrease."
"I won't say that the condition is worrisome as the situation is better than the previous year. All I want to say is that the health department is on alert," he added.
After multiple parts of the state were heavily flooded, the threat of a dengue epidemic breaking out in the state continues to remain. According to the health department, over 900 dengue cases have been registered in Patna since September. Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had also visited a hospital in the state on October 9 to review the preparedness of government-run hospitals.
Dengue threat in Bihar
Post the floods in the state, 900 people have been tested positive for dengue, including 640 cases in Patna. The Bihar government on October 3, began the fogging process in the waterlogged areas to prevent the risk of vector-borne diseases in the flood-affected regions. While speaking to a news agency, Sanjay Kumar, the Principal Secretary of Health in the state informed that twenty-four teams are spraying Temefos in Patna to kill mosquitoes.
(With inputs from ANI)
Updated 18:34 IST, October 16th 2019