West Bengal dengue cases exceed 5,000 as hotspots identified

Dengue infections in West Bengal have surpassed 5,000 cases, marking a significant increase compared to August, when fewer than 2,500 cases had been reported by the same date. Murshidabad has recorded the highest number of infections with 1,072 cases, followed by Kolkata with 500 and North 24 Parganas with 450.

The state health department has identified 29 municipalities, 85 community development blocks, and 278 village panchayats as hotspots. Criteria for these designations include a village panchayat having 10 or more patients, a community block having more than 30, or a municipality where the majority of wards report five or more cases.

Health officials are implementing intensive surveillance, including door-to-door checks and random blood testing. Authorities have issued warnings against self-medication for persistent fevers and are urging citizens to seek professional medical consultation and keep water containers covered to prevent mosquito breeding.