Bhubaneswar, July 24: Calling for a greater awareness for the diseases after the pre-monsoon rains in and around the city, experts at a meeting at BMC Conference Hall called for intense strategy on dengue as several cases have started cropping up across the city.
Saying that floating population in and around the city is partly responsible for the throwing of plastic cups, “use and throw’’ articles, which later help in creating stagnant water pools where Aedes mosquitoes lay eggs and proliferate, Dr. Rajendra Kumar Mallick, Deputy Director National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVVDCP), Odisha said “we need to educate citizens on little known facts about Dengue.
It can be mentioned here that the Aedes mosquito, responsible for Dengue, never uses polluted water to lay eggs. So it is primarily needed by all of us to dispose water stored in all thrown out plastic containers, cups and plates made of thermocol materials, coconut shells, used tyres, air coolers, flower pots and all sources having stagnant and clear water.
Dr. Mallick also informed that the Aedes mosquito stings two hours after sunrise and two hours before sunset, people must be extremely cautious while outing as in a year two severity cycles i.e. June-July and November as the mosquitoes proliferate much causing dengue.
However, he added that currently Bhubaneswar has got three centres i.e. Capital Hospital, AIIMS Bhubaneswar and Regional Medical Research Centre of ICMR has testing centres for Dengue, where tests best on ELISA method is being provided free of cost. The District Headquarters Hospital, Khurda near the city has also one such Dengue testing facility.
BMC Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena, who was chairing the meeting also called for a sustained awareness campaign on making people aware about the three Dengue testing centres in the State Capital.
Dr. Mallick also informed about symptoms of Dengue, Dengue haemorrhagic fever and Dengue shock syndrome, besides how to treat a patient with utmost care with adequate intake of water and ORS as the de-hydration causes serious problem in a dengue patient. Among the major symptoms, however, joint pain and pain in the eye socket come as a precursor to the disease.
Besides Health and Family Welfare Departments line departments like PHEO, PWD, School and Mass Education Department, representative of NVVDCP and NHM were present in the meeting.
It can be mentioned here that while urban development related issues, industrialisation and construction activities are contributing towards Dengue spread, 85 percent of Dengue in and around the city is related to travel history of the patient.
The meeting also discussed diseases like Malaria and Diarrhoea besides the management of Dengue. Deputy Mayor K. Shanti and senior officials of BMC also attended the meeting.
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