KMC intensifies surveillance on city fringes to block dengue march
Times of India | 25 June 2025
Kolkata: With the dengue threat looming over some city areas sharing borders with Dum Dum, South Dum Dum, and Baranagar municipality areas, where the dreaded disease has created panic among the residents, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has decided to keep a close watch on the city areas that share borders with these municipalities. The civic health officials will also keep an eye on the areas that share borders with Rajpur-Sonarpur municipality. Additionally, the KMC will strengthen its vector control activities in areas that are located off EM Bypass and fall under Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation jurisdiction.
According to a newly devised plan, the KMC executive health officers will maintain close contact with the health departments of these municipalities and keep sharing data on the outbreak of dengue in the affected areas. "If any patients suffering from fever with some symptoms of dengue in the affected areas under South Dum Dum or Baranagar municipalities approach health officials at our dengue detection centres, we will welcome them and arrange for free blood tests," a KMC health department official said.
A KMC medical officer looking after several north Kolkata localities conceded that with several dengue cases being detected in areas under Dum Dum, South Dum Dum, or Baranagar municipalities, a section of north Kolkata residents was not safe. "Sporadic cases of dengue have also been reported from Girish Park, Belgachhia and Bagbazar areas. Since these areas are known to be dengue-prone, we can't take chances and need to keep a strict vigil," said an executive health officer.
According to a KMC health department official, the KMC dengue detection centres in north Kolkata and close to EM Bypass would be able to take the extra load of patients who might be coming from Dum Dum or Baranagar to the KMC area to avail themselves of the opportunity.
As a preliminary step, the KMC vector control team may visit the dengue-affected areas of two bordering municipalities and exchange information with their counterparts working in South Dum Dum and Baranagar municipalities.