Dengue fever has staged a comeback in Ganjam district. The deadly decease had created havoc in the district in 2012 taking a heavy toll. Once again the denizens here are scared as the number of affected people is on the rise.
According to information, in the current year the number of dengue positive cases has increased to 64, out of which 21 patients whose blood samples were found positive are staying within the territorial ambience of the Brahmapur Municipal Corporation (BMC). The District Malaria Officer, however, has claimed that none of the dengue positive patients has died so far in the district. The point of worry is all the measures and programmes to fight dengue taken by the district health administration have become futile. Surprisingly, the deadly disease is spreading more rapidly in urban areas compared to rural areas.
Till December 10, the number of dengue positive cases has reached 21 out of 810 blood samples examined in the whole of the district. Of the 64 dengue positive cases, four were found under Adapada CHC, eight in Belagaon, two each in Bomakoi, Surada, Buguda, Bellaguntha, Khallikote, Munishipentha, Patrapur, and Sheragada, while one each in Dharakote, Girisolla, Gallery, Kabisuryanagar, five in Kukudakhandi, six in Kelluapalli and 21 detected under the BMC area.
It may be recalled that at least six medical students of MKCG Medical College and Hospital were tested positive for dengue and Debi Prasad Biswaranjan (20), a medical student, had died of dengue at a private hospital here in October, 2012. Experts consider poor sanitation condition, jammed and defunct drainage system in the city and sheer negligence of the BMC to lift garbage responsible for emergence of the deadly disease in the city.
The whole city has become a dumping yard of garbage, solid waste, polythene, wild plants, and dust. The anti-mosquito drive in the city is sheer eyewash. The BMC has never bothered to serve notice to the owners of the vacant plots where wastes are dumped. The privatisation of sanitation system has yielded little result.