It’s an effect of outbreak in Bangladesh

The recent rise in dengue cases in India’s West Bengal is the result of the outbreak in Bangladesh, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has claimed.

“As Bangladesh is our neighbour, if something happens there, its effect crosses the border,” she told a programme in Jadavpur on Thursday.

Mosquitoes from both countries can cross the border, she said, urging people to be careful.

According to health officials in the West Bengal, some 700 people infected with dengue had been admitted at various government and private hospitals until Thursday.

Local media recently published reports of deaths caused by dengue in the state.

Meanwhile, the mayors of Dhaka and Kolkata would join a video conference today to discuss the recent spread of the mosquito-borne disease.

Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim will join the conference around 2:30pm local time from Kolkata Municipality Corporation office, Deputy Mayor Atin Ghosh told The Daily Star.

Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Atiqul Islam on Thursday said he invited Atin Ghosh, also Kolkata’s acting panel mayor of the health department, to assist Bangladesh in tackling the dengue outbreak.

He said Ghosh was expected to arrive in Dhaka on Sunday.

Officials in Kolkata have been working round the year to control Aedes mosquito population over the last few years.

The corporation now keeps an eye on accumulation of stagnant water throughout the year and closely follows hospital records.