KORAPUT: Even though the Rayagada administration claimed to have taken all preventive measures to contain dengue, three fresh cases were admitted to the special dengue ward of Rayagada district headquarters hospital on Monday.The three patients were identified as Ratnalu Singh, 52, Bhaskar Rana, 28, and Sambana Kamala, 26.While according to official sources, the number of dengue patients in the district stands at 11, sources claim the figure to be over 20 as most of the patients are reportedly going to neighbouring Andhra Pradesh for treatment."The dengue situation is alarming. Though the administration claims to have taken all precautionary measures to check spread of the disease, all steps are confined to paper only. In reality, neither are the officials visiting the affected areas nor any awareness being created in the district," alleged P Gouri Shankar, zilla parishad member, Rayagada.While the first dengue patient was detected at Biranarayanpur village under Rayagada block, the disease has spread to J K Pur, Amlabhatta, Pitamahal, Muniguda and Sulabha villages.However, chief district medical officer (Rayagada) Chandrika Prasad Das said the situation is under control and dismissed allegations that no awareness is being created about the disease. "We have referred two dengue patients to the SLN Medical College and Hospital, Koraput and four patients to MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur. The others being treated in the district are stable," said Das."All possible steps have been taken to check the disease. While mobile health units are deployed in vulnerable areas, people have been asked to keep their environment clean and not to allow water to stagnate at a particular place as it turns out to be the breeding ground for mosquitoes," he added.

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