One of the most threatening viral diseases in recent years — dengue — has started stinging people in Jharkhand, as at least 54 patients have been found dengue positive this year so far. However, Health Department officials claim that the actual number of people found dengue positive here in Jharkhand is much less and neighbouring States, especially West Bengal and Odisha are defacing the State data.
“As far as I know, we have come across 54 patients with dengue positive this year so far. But majority of them are from neighbouring States, as people rush to their nearest health centres which in many case turns to be the one in Jharkhand for people living around boarder areas of West Bengal and Jharkhand,” said Health Director Dr. Parveen Chandra. He said that the cases remained largely confined to Kolhan area of the State, where all necessary steps were being taken.
He claimed that State was very much capable of handling dengue cases. He said that first advisory related to dengue was sent to the district health centres and downwards in May this year itself.
“A second advisory has also been sent as recently as last month and almost all of our health centres understand the seriousness of the disease and are prepared to tackle cases,” Chandra added.
RIMS acting Director RK Srivastava also claimed that RIMS was prepared for dengue patients. “A separate isolation ward is already in function and there is no shortage of necessary medicines. We are having one of the most efficient blood banks as well,” Srivastava said. He also denied the reports of a patient dying with dengue in the hospital on Friday, saying that the patient died with cardiac arrest and not with dengue. Meanwhile, four more cases of dengue have been reported in RIMS on Saturday.
However, Indian Medical Association (Jharkhand) Vice-President Dr Govind Das Banerjee said that State was lacking the volume of awareness drive it should and could have for a disease like dengue. “If number of dengue positive patients is true, this is an alarming situation. Ground realities might differ from what are being claimed keeping in mind that cases treated in private hospitals remain unnoticed. We use to do meetings in districts, but even we couldn’t discuss dengue in our last state-level meeting,” Banerjee said. He also said that the good part was that State didn’t have any dengue death this year.