345 more test dengue positive in Bihar, 1 dies

PATNA: A five-year-old male child died at Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH) on Saturday due to dengue and 345 more people tested positive for the viral disease in the state in the last 24 hours. "The child was admitted to the NMCH in a serious condition on Friday," hospital's superintendent Dr Renu Rohtagi said.

Meanwhile, of the 345 new dengue cases logged in the state on Saturday, Patna alone accounted for 291. With this, the state's dengue tally has so far this season has increased to 4,950. Last year, only 633 people had tested dengue positive in the state till mid-October.
The state started witnessing rise in dengue cases from the last week of September this year. Month wise break-up shows that the highest number of dengue cases was registered in just a fortnight in October in the state when 2,738 people tested positive for the virus, including 2,186 in Patna.
The state government has roped in the staff of the environment, forests and climate change department as well as the agriculture department to carry out the fogging work. State health department additional chief secretary Pratyaya Amrit said these additional staff would assist the urban local bodies in carrying out fogging drive.
He added several mediums were being used to create awareness regarding dengue among people. "Audios on precautionary measures will also be played through vehicles which collect garbage in different wards in the city," Amrit added.