KMC awareness campaigns check spread of dengue

Kolkata: The Health department of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has been able to bring down dengue cases considerably through sustained awareness campaign. According to Deputy Mayor Atin Ghosh, who also holds the charge of KMC's health department, dengue cases reported from the city from January 1 till September 11 stands at 602, which is much lower than last year's figure of 911.

"We follow the guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in data collection method. Dengue inspection is carried out throughout the city in all our wards. We collect raw data and then verify the same through meticulous examination, which includes testing samples of affected patients in our dengue detection centre. Thereafter we bring out the final data list," Ghosh said.

According to KMC sources, Borough 10, at present, has the highest number of dengue cases. The number of affected persons in ward 99 is 42, till 15 September, which refutes the figures claimed by Left councilor Debasish Mukherjee, who alleged that the number was much higher.

"We have conducted thorough examination and it has been revealed that some of the cases were either double entries or it was imported from other places other than ward 99. Our examination also determines whether the affected patient contracted dengue from the mentioned ward or from a place where the person is spending longer time which could be their areas of workplace." Ghosh added.

The Deputy Mayor's reply came during the monthly meeting of the civic body on Thursday after Left councillor alleged that the civic body has been suppressing the number of cases and sending wrong information to the state government.

"The KMC Health department is sending wrong data related to dengue cases in Kolkata. Documents accessed by me indicates that the Dengue Patient Tracking Console (DPTC) through which data on dengue cases are accessed states that the number of cases are much higher. The data is also not being updated regularly as it should be done," Mukherjee said.

The Deputy Mayor said that the KMC is strengthening its drive in locked buildings in the city. Section 546 of the KMC Act empowers the commissioner to take up drives in buildings under lock and key for a long period of time by breaking open the lock, if the civic body feels that the building may have turned into a breeding ground for mosquitoes.