Bhubaneswar: Health and family welfare department increased dengue testing by 2.5 times this year compared to last year. More than 1,200 dengue cases have been reported in the state so far after testing more than 50,000 samples. Last year by Aug 5, the state collected 20,000 samples for dengue testing, but this number has increased to more than 50,000 this time.Director (public health) Nilakantha Mishra said the dengue situation in Odisha was under control.
The state reported around 1,000 dengue cases by Aug last year. Only 200 more cases have been reported this time compared to last year after increase in dengue testing. “We had collected 329 samples on Sunday for dengue testing, but only 18 cases in the state tested positive for dengue,” said Mishra. He said the department is taking all necessary steps, including awareness drives, reduction in breeding sources of mosquitoes, and disease surveillance, to reduce dengue cases in the state. “We have also kept an eye on malaria cases. Sporadic cases of malaria are being reported. It will be reduced too,” he added.
Chief secretary and health secretary have instructed all line departments to spread awareness, particularly in schools, communities, and anganwadi centres, and to play their role in true spirit to control the spread of dengue and other water and vector-borne diseases. On July 30, health secretary Shalini Pandit directed chief district medical and public health officers, the authorities of medical colleges, and major hospitals across the state to keep adequate units of platelets in blood banks.
Dengue fever cases are expected to rise during the monsoon and post-monsoon period, especially in urban and peri-urban areas. Public health experts said people should destroy breeding places of Aedes mosquitoes that transmit dengue virus.

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