West Bengal records highest dengue deaths

Dengue cases have reached an alarming proportion in West Bengal with highest number of dengue deaths in the country so far.

With 56 persons affected with dengue in Darjeeling district, out of which 11 persons are from the Darjeeling Hills, Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) will go for an intensive awareness campaign on dengue.

Darjeeling district chief medical officer of health Asit Biswas told ANI that the number of dengue cases is higher in the district compared to last year.

"There were 56 dengue positive cases reported till September 14 in Darjeeling, of which 33 from Siliguri Municipal Corporation. Of 56 cases, 23 have travel history from South Bengal. We're taking all necessary measures to deal with this," he said.

"We will start door-to-door survey to get proper information on dengue cases and will also conduct meet with SMC and other health officers," he added.

Meanwhile, Siliguri mayor Asok Bhattacharya said most dengue cases are from West Bengal, with Kolkata and South Bengal being the most-hit areas.

"We don't have complacency, but have instructed all staff, employees and health workers so that they can do the needful. We have also asked counsellors to organise health camps and health awareness programmes," he added.

West Bengal is followed by Odisha and Kerala.

According to reports, there have been 60 Dengue deaths with 27,879 dengue cases reported from different states and union territories in the country so far this year.