Odisha gears up to contain malaria and dengue; Control rooms at DDHs become operational

Bhubaneswar: With continuous rainfall, Odisha is now facing the threat of waterborne diseases which are highly connected to rainfall. However, the State government said that it has geared up to contain such diseases.

Speaking about the decision, Director of Public Health Nilakantha Mishra said that control rooms for the waterborne diseases at all the District Headquarter Hospitals (DDHs) have been made active and special combined control rooms have been opened for dengue cases.

“The officials are working as per the direction of the Health and Family Welfare Department and are submitting their reports,” Mishra said adding that as the cases of dengue, Diarrhoea and vomiting is increasing in the State, the people have to become vigilant of it. More such cases have been reported from Sudergarh district, he said.

The health officials along with others are carrying out awareness programmes and doing surveys at doorsteps, informed the Public Health Director.

He further said that as the cases of snakebites are also increasing, adequate amount of antivenom injections have been made available at the hospitals.

“We are also keeping a close vigil on the diphtheria cases and the health workers are conducting surveillance in the nearby areas where such cases are reported. The suspected persons are given anti-diphtheria serum doses. We also have asked the people to stay alert for such diseases,” said Nilakantha Mishra.