"Officially, dengue-affected persons so far total 219, mainly in Kolkata and Bidhan Nagar (Salt Lake) municipal areas," West Bengal minister of state for health Chandima Bhatacharya said after reviewing the situation at a high-level meeting here.
Giving details of the steps taken by the health department to combat the disease, which is spreading fast since its first incidence last month, the minister said that special wards would be shortly opened in all state-run hospitals to admit patients.
She said that the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and Bidhannagar municipality had been asked to coordinate with the state health department to effectively deal with the vector-borne disease and prevent its spread.
The minister said that special clinics would be opened to attend to dengue victims along with opening of vector-control units.
The meeting was attended by principals and superintendents of state-run medical colleges and hospitals, and representatives of civic bodies of Kolkata and Bidhannagar.
