Odisha prepares action plan to fight dengue

With the number of dengue patients increasing by the day in the state, Odisha government today chalked out a joint action plan to tackle the problem.
Senior IAS officer Sachin Yadav has been appointed as the nodal officer to coordinate between health and family welfare and housing and urban development ministries in tackling the dengue menace, Health Minister Atanu S Nayak said.
To avoid spread of the disease, a joint action plan has been prepared to carry out massive cleaning drive in urban areas, Housing and Urban Development Minister Pushpendra Singhdeo said.
While the Health department will provide logistical support, the urban development department will take up the sanitation drive on a war-footing at the urban pockets affected by dengue, he said.

Dengue cases were reported from new areas like the urban areas of Rourkela and Berhampur, officials said.
"As many as 797 blood samples have been tested positive in the state and 130 patients have been admitted to hospitals. The infected persons are undergoing treatment in various hospitals. We are taking steps to control the situation," Nayak said.