At least six persons have died of dengue this monsoon season in West Bengal after which Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee issued instructions to remove the stagnant water in urban areas so that mosquito larvae cannot breed.
Health department officials said the first dengue death was reported in June end and so far six people have died.
"So far in our state we had witnessed strain one and three of dengue virus, but since last year we are seeing a shift to strain two and four. Mortality is higher in these two strains as it quickly leads to multiple organ failure," state Director of Health Services Biswaranjan Satpathy said.
During a health review meeting, Banerjee asked the department to issue an advisory to remove stagnant water from market places, schools, hospitals, railway stations, bus stands among others.
All panchayats and urban local bodies have been asked to remain careful about cases of unidentified fever, malaria, dengue, diarrhoea etc, which are prevalent in the rainy season.
Banerjee said she has also asked the school education department to issue an advisory to schools to maintain cleanliness in their campus.
Officials said 41 urban local bodies in the state are at risk and they have been asked to increase cleanliness activities including removal of stagnant water.
