Unknown fever looms large in Malda

SOUMYA DE SARKAR, EOI, MALDA, 22 Oct 2016: Fever of unknown origin has turned into an epidemic in the district, said Krishnendu Choudhury the chairman of English Bazaar municipality (EBM) and the chairman of Rogi Kalyan Samity (RKS) of the district after holding an emergency meeting with the municipal councilors and the district health officials today. Choudhury also declared several measures to be taken up without any delay to combat the situation. Sharad Dwivedi, the district magistrate also held another meeting with the Malda Medical College and Hospital (MMCH) authority this afternoon to discuss the issue.

Fever has virtually become an epidemic in the district. However, there is nothing to be panicked. The health officials have told us that most of the fever patients are not suffering from dengue. Even then we have resolved to take up measures on war footing to stop breeding of mosquitoes,” Choudhury said.

“Fogging and spraying the larvicides would be made twice a day at the municipal areas. Special attention would be paid to MMCH premises. Five health centres under EBM would hold special camps to treat the patients with fever. Suspected cases would be referred to MMCH,” he said.

The EBM chairman also said that along with extensive public awareness campaigns and distribution of leaflets, a control room in EBM would start operating too from today.

Dr Amit Daw, the medical super cum vice principal of MMCH and Dr Amitava Mandal, deputy CMOH (chief medical officer of health) also conceded that large number of patients had been suffering from acute fever across the district. However, they claimed that number of dengue cases detected so far was not at large as being apprehended.

“Since January, this year out of 2411 blood samples tested with the eliza kits brought from Pune, dengue was confirmed in only 511 cases. We have come to know that tests done at private medical establishments are showing dengue. But those reports are not error free. The ideal way to confirm dengue is through the eliza test,” Dr Mandal said.

He informed that blood tests were being done at all 51 rural and block health centres too. But those have no facility to test dengue, Dr Mandal conceded.

Dr Daw conceded that with only 750 beds available nearly 1500 patients were under treatment in MMCH. “Every day on an average 250 patients are coming to our OPD (out patients’ department) and 30 to 35 patients are getting admitted. Owing to the scarcity of bed we have been compelled to accommodate the patients even on the floors,” the MSVP said.

However, the concern is still prevailing in the district as Dr Daw admitted that out of 126 blood samples tested last week in MMCH, 24 samples were detected with dengue.