Barbil: Dengue broke out in Barbil area of Keonjhar district affecting 25 persons in the last three days.
The development has triggered panic among the local people, health officials and the district administration.
Among the affected are a pharmacist and an ambulance driver of Barbil PHC, who are under treatment.
CDMO Dr Kabindra Prasad Sahu made it clear that dengue tests done at private hospitals are usually not given official approval.
He stated that ELISA machines have been provided to eight district headquarters hospitals in the state to detect dengue cases.
Arrangements will be made with special mosquito nets for dengue patients in Barbil hospital, he added.
Oriya daily Dharitri had published a report about poor sanitation in Barbil civic body recently. Two days later, cases of dengue came to the fore.
The health department launched an awareness drive in the area even as the disease is reportedly spreading.
Collector N Tirumala Nayak along with CDMO visited the hospital and wards 4 and 11 in civic body area where dengue is spreading.
Later, the collector held an emergency meeting with health the officials, councillors, NGO activists, officials of various corporate houses and local people.
The collector directed the health officials to raise awareness among people and bring them to the hospital immediately for treatment. PNN
