KMC asks citizens not to panic over dengue

Kolkata: The KMC Health department assured the citizens of Kolkata on Monday that there is nothing to panic over the cases of dengue in the city. "We have the best infrastructure in the country for dengue detection and diagnosis and we follow the treatment protocol of World Health Organisation (WHO). The latest treatment manual is being catered by us," member Mayor-in-Council (MMiC), Health, Atin Ghosh said. There are 15 dengue detection centres of the KMC with one each in every borough.

The KMC is, however, not at all complacent and is increasing its vector surveillance from the month of November. Top officials of the civic body's Health department held a meeting at the KMC headquarters and took stock of the situation. "We will be putting teasers on lamp posts around the city in the form of flexes as part of precautionary measures and awareness related to dengue," Ghosh said.

According to a senior official of KMC's Health department, heavy rain in the city during the Kali Puja has resulted in the formation of water pockets thereby encouraging breeding of mosquitoes.

"There has been a noticeable change in the weather condition across the world and India is not an exception. The minimum temperature in the city and the state is above 20 degree Celsius during most of the period in a year and this ideal for the breeding of dengue mosquitoes," a senior official pointed out.