Dengue has claimed three lives in Bihar and is spreading fast with more than 1,000 people testing positive for the mosquito-borne disease. However, the state government is yet to initiate a serious effort to check the spread of dengue even as it threatens to become an epidemic.
According to data available with the state government, dengue has claimed two lives in Samastipur and one in Bhagalpur district. But unconfirmed reports say that over a dozen people have succumbed to the disease in different parts of the state.
In Patna alone, as many as 315 cases of dengue have been confirmed by the health department followed by 235 cases in Bhagalpur. "People suffering from dengue fever have been admitted to government and private hospitals," Rajendra Prasad Ojha, a health department official said.
As the disease continues to spread, Bihar health minister Ashwani Kumar Choubey said the government has decided to purchase fogging machines because three out of four machines are not functional. At present, only one fogging machine is in use in Patna, which is spread over 29 municipal wards.
Choubey said that
new fogging machines would be available by next week.
An official of the Patna Municipal Corporation told
rediff.com that the government is fighting disease without fogging machines. "Patna requires at least six fogging machines to get rid of mosquitoes that cause dengue," he said.
Moreover, there are no fogging machines in Bhagalpur, Gaya and Samastipur, which has the maximum number of dengue-afflicted patients.
According to health officials, dengue cases have also been reported from Sitamarhi, Purnia, Begusarai, Patna, Vaishali and Gaya districts.
However, Choubey said that the situation is under control and there is no need to panic because the health department had directed concerned officials to check the spread of the disease by taking several measures.
Choubey said that he has directed hospital authorities across the state to provide adequate treatment and medicines to those suffering from the disease.
The health department had sounded high alert a fortnight ago to keep a close watch on the situation and to check the spread of disease.