After recording its first dengue-related death on Tuesday, the Odisha government said that it was well prepared to tackle the fallout of the disease adding that there was no panic-like situation yet.
32-year-old Hemanta Jena, who lived in Delhi’s Dwarka area, where he got infected with the disease, was initially admitted to Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar and was referred to SCB Medical College in Cuttack after his condition became critical on Monday. He died on Tuesday, said a health official.
“There is no panicky situation in Odisha even though one person died due to dengue. We have made available separate wards and arranged laboratories in district hospitals and medical colleges for blood tests this year,” health secretary Arti Ahuja told reporters.
Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday held a review meeting over the dengue situation.
Ahuja said the government would provide free diagnosis and treatment to suspected dengue patients.
She said about 400 people have tested positive for dengue virus in Odisha.
According to reports, dengue cases have been detected in Balasore, Cuttack, Jagantsinghpur, Jajpur, Khurda, Kendrapara, Angul, Balangir and Dhenkanal.
