Odisha dengue toll 3, Govt to bear medicine cost of poor

The decision to bear cost of medicine and treatment related items was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. "The government will provide immediate financial assistance to poor dengue patients from Chief Minister's Relief Fund and Red Cross funds," said an official.

The Chief Minister also issued direction to health authorities to ensure that the dengue patients do not pay for blood transfusion.

Patnaik through a video conference also directed the District Collectors of dengue hit districts to gear up awareness campaign as the disease mostly spread due to unhygienic condition. Besides involving students of schools and colleges in the awareness drive, folk artists would be engaged to spread the message to control the disease.

"The situation is under control. However, we have to remain alert till end of September as dengue spreads during this period," Health minister Damodar Rout told reporters.

Ganjam district registered highest dengue patients with 55 people testing positive to the disease while the total cases so far detected was about 97.

"Our village level health workers are constantly keeping watch on the situation," said health director Tribikram Panda.