No let up in dengue in Angul district

ANGUL: There has been no let up in dengue in the district despite the administration’s tall claims about awareness drive and monitoring by Government authorities in the worst-hit Talcher and its adjoining areas.The mad rush of patients at MCL Central Hospital in Talcher continued with 150 fever patients reporting on Tuesday. The hospital also got the facilities to test blood samples for dengue, according to MCL PRO D. Mehra. As many as 40 cases out of 250 tested positive on Monday.  Patients are pouring in from Kaniha, Pallahara, Khamar, Nalco township, Angul, Chhendipada and other parts of the district.Admitting 10 dengue deaths, CDMO R. C. Behera said a ‘Rath’ on dengue awareness would be soon making rounds in the affected areas. The residents, however, are aggrieved by the fact that neither the State Health Minister nor the health secretary has visited the area till now. The district authorities too have conducted only one review meeting.Protesting administration’s alleged inaction, hundreds of BJP workers led by its district president Asoke Mahanty and secretary Kalandi Samal gheraoed the CDMO on Sunday. They demanded comprehensive measures to contain the disease.  “The district administration and State Government’s lack of seriousness in tackling dengue allowed the disease to take an epidemic form. While the Central team focused on awareness drive to effectively combat the disease, there is no such effort in the area to rope in schools, colleges and other groups to create an awareness in villages,” said Asoke Mahanty.