Dengue and viral fever is spreading across the steel city, with affected people continuing to pour into hospitals and nursing homes on Monday.
Sources at health department informed that till now there have been 10 dengue positive cases detected at lone vector test lab of Kolhan in MGM Medical College, Dimna. The patients samples were sent from Tata Main Hospital (Bistupur) and Mercy Hospital (Baridih).
As per data available with the Integrated Diseases Surveillance Program (IDSP) office of East Singhbhum, out of the 10 cases, four patients were from Seraikela Kharsawan district and six from East Singhbhum district. There has been no casualty in dengue cases so far in 2013.
Official sources said the number of cases of dengue and viral fever was on the rise, especially in the fringe areas, in the past one week. This was reportedly owing to the heavy concentration of vectors in these areas.
Doctors in the city blame the rise in dengue cases to the deteriorating hygene in the city. They said that if the civic bodies do nothing, the number of cases could spiral out of control.
When contacted civil surgeon Dr Jagat Bhushan said that steps are being taken to control the situation fogging machines have been brought in, clearance of stagnation of water is being carried out, distribution of medication is being done.
Advising that people should keep their surroundings clear from broken items like buckets, tyres and coconut shells that can accumulate water and cause the disease, Dr Bhushan said that short spells have a higher chances of causing dengue than heavy spells.
He said that the administration will launch a special drive to create awareness on dengue and the Health Department will monitor the onset of the disease.