Over 100 fresh dengue cases in Bengal

Kolkata: Altogether 132 fresh dengue cases were detected in West Bengal over the past 24 hours, but there were no deaths, a state health department official said here on Wednesday.

"We have received fresh reports of 132 dengue cases. The total number of dengue positive cases have now risen to 1,874 since January this year," state health services director Biswaranjan Satpathy told IANS.

The death count remains at 14, he said.

Meanwhile, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) on Wednesday slapped showcause notices on two health officials for negligence.

KMC Mayor-in-Council member Atin Ghosh announced that the vector control-in-charge of borough VIII and 68 ward vector control-in charge were being showcaused.

The decision came after Ghosh, accompanied by senior KMC officials, went round the Industrial Training Institute, Gariahat, and found larvae of malaria- and dengue-causing mosquitoes.

Ghosh also saw garbage piled up in the premises.

"This institute is a breeding ground of mosquitoes. I have been visiting so many institutions. But nowhere did I see such a bad condition. While the ITI officials are responsible, we are showcausing the borough vector control-in charge and the ward control-in charge.

"We will also take steps on a war footing to improve the condition," said Ghosh.