Dengue in Siliguri: Mayor holds meeting

SNS | Siliguri | 17 October, 2016:Siliguri mayor Asok Bhattacharya held a meeting with the health department on the issue of dengue in Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) area on Saturday. Bhattacharya visited different areas to take stock of the situation.

Dengue has spread its wings in several areas, including wards 6, 14, 17, 18 and 40. According to the Darjeeling district health department, there were 88 confirmed cases of dengue since January while 118 people tested positive in the district during the same period.

“There is no reason to panic, the cases of dengue have been reduced to some extent for the past few weeks. People should be aware that the blood samples should be sent to the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital and Siliguri District Hospital for the confirmation (through mac-aliza test) of the disease,” Bhattacharya said.

The health officials said that the recent torrential rain in the region has brought the temperature down to some extent, which in turn, would check the disease.

“The situation can linger till the end of this month. The temperature has dropped to some extent due to the recent heavy rainfall in the region. “There may be some respite as the temperature has dropped,” said a medical practitioner.

It has been decided in the meeting that the health department would impart special training to the SMC health officials on 20 and 21 October. The civic body will also conduct a house to house survey between 22 and 26 October.