A team of health officials visited villages under Malbazar sub-division in Jalpaiguri on Tuesday from where dengue cases were reported.

During their visit, the team made a number of recommendations to health officers in the area and to representatives of panchayats to prevent further spread of the vector-borne disease.

In Bagrakote panchayat — a tea garden area — the first dengue case was reported on April 29.

On Tuesday, the visiting team found 46 patients suffering from the disease in the area. Among them, 10 are hospitalised.

Sources in the district health department said that because of the sudden surge in cases at Bagrakote, the total number of dengue cases reported in the district till date from January 1, 2022, was 74.

Asit Biswas, director of public health of the state, said they were taking all necessary steps.“We have made it clear that there should be no water accumulation as those are breeding grounds of mosquitoes. Health workers have been asked to visit households and check if anybody has fever or other symptoms of dengue. Spraying of larvicide has also started,” he said.

The residents have been advised to visit hospitals or health centres to get tested if they have fever.

The rise in dengue cases in Bagrakote and some other locations of north Bengal has also put the state on alert.

On Tuesday, chief minister Mamata Banerjee had expressed her concern over the issue. “There are reports of dengue cases in north Bengal. The state health department should send a team to the region to take stock of the situation,” she had said.