Dengue Outbreak: Oram Seeks Central Team Inspection

BHUBANESWAR: With the killer dengue spreading its tentacles in Odisha, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram on Friday sought the intervention of Union Health Ministry to contain the situation in the state.

He requested Health Minister JP Nadda to send a team of doctors to assess the situation and take remedial measures at the earliest.

“I have received reports that more than 600 people are suffering in Barbil town and nearby areas in Keonjhar district. It is already affected another nine districts of Odisha.  It may further spread to other areas in the state,” said Oram in a letter to Nadda.

The dengue has claimed two lives so far while as many as 1109 persons have tested positive in the state.

Odisha Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak took a review meeting here to take stock of the situation and control the killer disease.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Arti Ahuja on Friday asked the district collectors and Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco) for intensification of immediate measures for dengue prevention of containment.

The secretary asked to identify the areas in the industrial and other areas, where the water is stagnant.

She also directed to mobilise additional manpower and clear such areas on a war footing and sensitise workers on wearing full sleeves clothing.

Notably, dengue is spreading its tentacles in other districts after Keonjhar and Cuttack. The other districts include Jajpur, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Balasore, Khurdha and Puri.