Bihar Floods: 250 Patients Test Positive for Dengue in Patna

Patna: Dengue is spreading fast among the waterlogging victims in the most affected residential localities in Patna, as more than 250 patients have been tested positive for dengue fever in the last 60 hours.

In Patna, where thousands of waterlogging victims are still forced to live in the inundated—areas six days after the heavy rainfall. It has been reported that hundreds of victims trapped or confined in their houses are suffering from mild to high fever and other symptoms like upset stomach.

According to the district health officials engaged in relief operations—which include sprinkling of bleaching and lime powder the in waterlogged residential localities—water logging is the main cause of spread of dengue here.

At the government-run Patna Medical College and Hospital here (PMCH), 67 patients were tested positive for dengue including 60 from waterlogged localities in Patna, on Friday alone. In another government-run Nalanda Medical College and Hospital here, two patients were tested positive from waterlogged localities.

About 50 patients have tested positive for the mosquito-borne disease in private hospitals and clinics, while 28 patients tested positive in a health camp organised by a voluntary body in Patna on Friday.

On Thursday, more than 50 patients from waterlogged localities were tested positive at the PMCH and 44 in private hospitals and health camps.

“It is a fact that water logged victims are not taking the risk to cross the waterlogged stretch because of the stench emanating from the stagnant water—which has turned black—along with filth and floating animal carcasses. But after suffering from fever for two to three days, they have been forced to go for a dengue test to confirm their fear,” Rupesh, an activist working in waterlogged areas, told NewsClick.

Rupesh said that there are dozens of people—old and young—who are suffering from fever for days, are unable to go for the test due to difficulty in reaching there from their houses, which are surrounded by three to four feet of water. “The Health Department as well as private hospitals should conduct tests at doorstep to check and control outbreak of dengue,” he said.

Health officials said that waterlogging helps the spread of these vector-borne diseases by enabling mosquito breeding. Apart from dengue, reports of Chikungunia and diarrhea outbreak are also surfacing in the city.

A health official, Hira Lal Mahto, told NewsClick that first priority should be to clear waterlogging and clean the areas without delay. “Waterlogging, filth, bad smell are posing a serious threat of spread of waterborne and communicable diseases. Preventive measures need to be taken on emergency level,” he said.

However, Patna District Magistrate Kumar Ravi, in a release, said that about 75 teams have been deployed in Patna to sprinkle bleaching powder, clean the roads and narrow streets and to remove animal carcasses.

He admitted that there is danger of epidemics due to filth, dumped garbage and stinking water in waterlogged areas.

According to a top health department official, a team of doctors will soon visit affected areas to provide medical treatment, if needed.

Though there has been no rain here since Sunday night, thousands of people in the severely waterlogged residential localities including Kankarbagh, Rajendra Nagar, Kadamkuan and parts of Patliputra colony, Bazar Samiti and other places are struggling for drinking water, food, candles, milk and other essential items. The fear of outbreak of diseases like dengue, viral fever, jaundice, skin and breathing allergies is adding to the people’s misery.

So far, as per the official data, no case of waterborne disease or communicable disease has been reported from waterlogged parts of Patna.

On the other hand, overlooking these serious issues, Bihar's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (United) or JD-U leaders are busy targeting, attacking and blaming each other for the failure in handling this crisis. Even mayor of Patna, Sita Sahi, who belongs to BJP has repeatedly blamed the state government for waterlogging and targeting JD-U for it.

Till date, waterlogging in Patna and floods across the state have killed 73 people and more than 20 lakh people have been affected by it.