Joda/Keonjhar: In the wake of two patients having died of dengue and over 380 affected in Barbil alone amid reports of growing cases in Keonjhar district, the Joda municipality has stepped up awareness drive in the area. Condition of 15 patients is stated to be critical. Six of them were shifted to Cuttack.
A constable of Bamebari police station, Bhaskar Patra, tested positive for the vector-borne disease Saturday.
The health department has trained 150 Anganwadi workers and members of voluntary organisations, who conducted an awareness drive in the area for the third day Saturday.
Meanwhile, the health department has surveyed about 80 per cent of the households in Joda.
Joint director of the national vector-borne disease control programme Dr Madan Mohan Pradhan, insect expert VMB Rao, additional district medical officer SS Bal, executive officer of Joda civic body Prashant Kumar Sahu, medical officer of Joda CHC Jagdish Prasad Sahu, homoeopathic doctor Subodh Kumar Tripathy, Joda block CDPO Renuka Swain, health officer Rajendra Kumar Mishra and many other health officials took part in the drive.
Reports from Keonjhar said various quarters have blamed mine owners for the spread of the vector-borne disease. Locals alleged that NGOs are doing nothing to prevent the spread of the disease.
It was stated that abandoned water-logged mines, closed factories, dirty drains and poor sanitation have become breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Both the government and private sectors have a major role to play in sorting out the problem.
Health minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak had reviewed the situation in Keonjhar district Friday. The minister visited the special dengue ward at the district headquarters hospital and enquired the patients about their condition.
According to reports, the first dengue casualty was Sukarmuni Sandil (40), a resident of ward-8 in Barbil, while the latest victim was Ratani Karua (58) of Sriram Nagar of the same area. PNN