KMC deputes additional staff to combat dengue, unknown fever

Kolkata: The state Health department has taken several measures, including deployment of additional staff, to combat the spread of dengue and unknown fever in some pockets in North 24-Parganas.

The affected areas included Habra, Gaighata, Barasat, Barrackpore and Ashoknagar.

More than 2,000 people have been afflicted with dengue and unknown fever.

The state health department has sanctioned Rs 40.50 lakh to pay the remuneration of additional staff for vector control and conduct house to house survey. Already 450 additional staffs have been engaged in Habra I and II, Gaighata and Barrackjpore II blocks. Virologists and doctors from School of Tropical Medicine have been sent to Habra-Ashoknagar hospital.

The patients with high fever are suffering from headache, nausea and body ache.

It may be mentioned that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has instructed all the municipalities and civic bodies to gear up anti-larvae drives in their areas. In a recent meeting with the state health department officials at Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) headquarters, mayor Firhad Hakim said the KMC has become a model to combat Dengue for all the municipalities.

The KMC launched the anti-larvae drive from February.

The drives kic started with rallies held in all the 144 wards. The KMC has identified 20 areas as vulnerable and special drives have been conducted in these areas.

The civic body has asked all the laboratories carrying out pathological tests to conduct blood examination by ELISA method to detect dengue.

Senior doctors said people suffering from Dengue during monsoon was not uncommon but Hemorrhagic Dengue Fever often poses serious life threat if the patient is not monitored properly.

They advised people suffering from high fever to increase their fluid intake. They said people suffering from high fever should not panic and consult doctor for advice.