**Bhubaneswar/Keonjhar:** With the dengue situation in Odisha’s tribal-dominated Keonjhar district continuing to worsen with the rapid increase in the number of patients, the killer disease has claimed its first ever death reported this season from the district.
As per reports, the deceased has been identified as Sukramani Sandil of Colony No 8 in Barbil town.
Sandil was undergoing treatment in the Barbil hospital.
On the other hand, State Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak on Thursday while talking to OMMCOM NEWS said the state level committee is taking sincere measures to control the situation.
The Health Minister said that the state level team has already been despatched to Keonjhar besides a special ward already opened at Cuttack SCB Medical College and Hospital looked after by a team of doctors headed by a senior specialist there.
Free blood, free drugs and free treatment will be provided to the patients affected, the Minister informed.
Notably, the number of dengue patients in Barbil area of the Keonjhar district has reached up to 246 and blood samples of another 132 persons have been collected, informed Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Kabindra Prasad Sahoo.
In a bid to stop further spreading of dengue, the district administration has initiated efforts to spread awareness among people by advising them to keep their surroundings clean.
Meanwhile, a representative team of BJP visited Barbil and took stock of the dengue situation.
Reviewing the situation on Monday last, Health and Family Welfare Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak had said that special dengue wards have been opened at Barbil Community Health Centre (CHC) and SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.
On the other hand, the total number of dengue patients admitted at SCB Hospital, which stood at 14 on Wednesday, rose to 21 on Thursday, sources said.
One of them has been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) after his condition turned critical.
Rest of them are undergoing treatment at dengue ward of the hospital.