Kolkata: Since January this year, as many as 18,238 cases of dengue have been reported from different parts of Bengal, while 35 people have died due to the vector-borne disease till Tuesday; state Chief Secretary Malay De said.
He further added: "It is mandatory to report to the state government if any pathological and private healthcare centre finds a person suffering from the disease by conducting tests based on proper scientific methods."
Addressing a press conference at Nabanna, De said there is nothing to panic and the state government has taken all necessary measures in this regard.
He has stated that 40 had died and 20,140 people had suffered due to the disease till this time in 2016.
De added that "rapid tests" are being conducted at many private pathological centres to ascertain whether a person is suffering from dengue or not. "It doesn't help in getting the right result and creates unnecessary panic among people," he said, adding that the state government is monitoring the entire situation very closely. Steps have been taken against such pathological centres earlier.
He stressed on the fact that the state government has always taken all necessary measures whenever there have been any public health issue. "Both preventative and curative measures have already been taken," he said.
He said that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a high-level meeting with officials from the state Health department and civic bodies on October 12.
It may be mentioned that the Chief Minister had stated that unnecessary panic is being spread among commoners over dengue for "monetary gain" of a section of pathological laboratories and awareness needs to be spread to check the growing menace.
She had said: "It has been found that many a time unnecessary panic is being created so that a person suffering from fever gets admitted to a healthcare centre and they (administration of healthcare centre) make money. Some laboratories undertake unnecessary tests on a person suffering from fever instead of doing the one which is actually needed."
Dey said the state government is not trying to suppress any information regarding dengue cases or deaths.
He further said that in the past it was found that dengue had spread in urban parts of the state. But this time it happened in rural areas as well.
"Breeding of mosquitoes has to be checked and all civic bodies and panchayats have been directed to take necessary measures. Special attention is being given to places where more cases of dengue have been reported," he said adding that people also have to be aware and they shouldn't allow accumulation of water in flower tubs, unused tyres, etc.