Dengue cases are rising sharply across West Bengal, with the state recording 5,002 affected people till September 11, according to the latest health department bulletin. In response, authorities have identified 29 municipalities, 85 community development blocks and 278 village panchayats as dengue hotspots.
A State Health Department official said teams are carrying out intensive and random blood sample testing in these areas, where a large number of dengue-positive cases have been reported in the past month. The department is also conducting awareness campaigns to encourage people with prolonged fever to get tested.
The state has a defined system for identifying dengue hotspots. A village panchayat with 10 or more dengue patients is classified as a hotspot, while a community development block with more than 30 affected people comes under the hotspot category. A municipality is identified as a hotspot when most of its wards report five or more dengue cases.
Officials are particularly concerned about people with fever for two or more days choosing self-medication instead of seeking medical advice. The health department is therefore urging such people to visit the nearest health centre for blood tests or consult a medical practitioner rather than treating themselves.
The department has also intensified door-to-door surveillance. Health workers are advising residents to keep water tanks and cisterns properly covered and to use mosquito nets or similar coverings if required. They are also creating awareness about preventing stagnant water from collecting in flowerpots, abandoned containers and other potential mosquito breeding sites.
Surveillance is also being conducted in ponds, drains, pools, dry canals, unused wells and factories. Larvicides are being applied as per the prescribed guidelines.
The latest figures show a sharp increase compared with August. The number of dengue cases till September 11 in August was below 2,500, meaning around 2,500 additional cases have been recorded in just one month.
Murshidabad has reported the highest number of cases at 1,072, followed by Kolkata with 500 and North 24 Parganas with 450 cases.