Kolkata, Aug. 31 -- In the wake of dengue cases shooting up to over 4,000, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari will chair a high-level meeting at Swasthya Bhawan on Tuesday to review the state's dengue situation.
As of August 19, the state reported 4,035 cases, and around 10 people have died as of Sunday, health department sources said. The state's dengue positivity rate stood at 0.7 per cent up to August 19, compared with one per cent during the corresponding period last year.
Commissioners of the Kolkata and Howrah municipal corporations, executive officers of 21 municipalities, and senior officials from the Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, Transport and Irrigation departments will attend the meeting scheduled for 5 pm. Railway officials have also been urged to attend the meeting.
According to sources, West Bengal recorded 6,488 cases in the first 33 weeks of 2025, against 4,035 so far this year.
Dengue claimed 19 lives in the state last year. Sources also reported that the most affected areas with the maximum cases are Mal and Matiali in Jalpaiguri; Jalangi and Raghunathganj-II in Murshidabad; Bhatar and Purbasthali-I in Purba Bardhaman; Bhangar-I and Bhangar-II in South 24 Parganas; and Tehatta-I and Chakdaha in Nadia.
The Tuesday meeting will be the first major dengue review chaired by Adhikari since the change of government. Senior health department officials will also meet district chief medical officers of health ahead of the Chief Minister's review.
State Health minister Sharadwat Mukherjee held a dengue review meeting recently, where he expressed dissatisfaction over the issue.
He stated that lack of maintenance has caused various places to become breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.