A sudden spurt in dengue cases in Matialli, a block in Jalpaiguri district in the western Dooars, has made the district health department take preventive steps.

Sources in the department said that in the past two months, 19 persons were detected with dengue, among whom six were found in Chilauni, a tea estate in the block.

On Tuesday, four teams of the health department reached Chilauni and some other locations from where these cases were reported.

They did a house-to-house survey, sprayed pesticides and cleared accumulated water, considered the breeding ground of mosquitoes, wherever found.

“We are taking all necessary steps. Teams are being sent in different places of the block. The blood tests of patients with fever are being carried out regularly to expedite specific treatment for dengue if so diagnosed. We are also keeping regular updates about cases of fever in the block,” said Arindam Maity, the block medical officer of health of Matialli.

A couple of months back, a similar rise in dengue cases was reported from Bagrakote, an area in neighbouring Malbazar block.

Duare Sarkar camps

The Jalpaiguri district administration will organise special camps under the “Duare Sarkar” initiative of the state government in tea estates of the district, Moumita Godara Basu, the district magistrate, said on Wednesday.

“The initiative will be launched next week. Caste and tribe certificates, pensions and other government benefits would be provided at these camps. Those who reside in tea estates can submit applications for welfare schemes. Those who serve under the 100-days-scheme will also be engaged at the camps,” she said.

In Jalpaiguri, there are 84 tea estates among which four are closed.