Outbreak of vector-borne disease in Kolkata, Salt Lake

Over 100 people have been admitted to hospitals and nursing homes in Kolkata and Salt Lake in the last one week with symptoms of dengue, Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) officials said.

"Hospitals and nursing homes have been specifically asked to adhere to WHO guidelines and follow the diagnostic and treatment protocol," a KMC official said.

KMC Mayor-in-Council (Health) Atin Ghosh said reports of the affliction have been received from four wards of KMC, mainly from Kasba and Anandpur areas, where civic personnel have taken up fogging operations.

"We have been able to control a malarial outbreak...Of late dengue like disease has appeared but there is no cause for panic," he said.

A high-level meeting was held at KMC with health officials, National Institute of Cholera and Enteric diseases and School of Tropical Medicine experts, besides representatives of 25 nursing homes and private hospitals to review the situation.

Ghosh said KMC was seized of the situation and has taken preventive measures.

Health minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said her department has asked all private hospitals and nursing homes to report dengue cases to the state government.

She said joint secretary (health) Himadri Sanyal has been asked to attend a meeting of the Salt Lake municipality where dengue-like affliction has been reported in the last few days.

"There is no cause of panic and necessary steps have been taken," she said.

Since January till August 7, as many as 144 positive dengue cases have been detected in the metropolis.