370 test positive for dengue in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: A total 370 people have tested positive for dengue in Odisha as the state government urged people today not to panic over the spread of the disease.

Health and family welfare department spokesman said the disease was in fact controlled this time through massive awareness campaign, as 1,245 people were affected and three of them had died of the fever last year.

While the highest number of 50 people were detected to have dengue virus in Bhadrak coastal district, reports of people testing positive were received from nine other districts - Balasore, Cuttack, Jagantsinghpur, Jajpur, Khurda, Kendrapara, Angul, Balangir and Dhenkanal, a health and family welfare department spokesman said.

Health and family welfare Secretary, Arati Ahuja has been reviewing the dengue situation regularly and the department has issued directions to field officials and doctors to provide immediate treatment to patients.

"All the 30 district headquarter hospitals have the blood test facility to detect dengue virus. The field personnel have also been given special kits to treat denugue patients at the village level," the official said, adding special instructions were issued to treat with dengue patients with attention.