Dengue: People wanting to check their blood samples for dengue do not have to go to private clinics anymore in Phuentsholing. The general hospital now provides early detection facilities.

The medical officer-in-charge at the Phuentsholing general hospital, Dr Thinley Pelzang said the health ministry procured the early detection dengue kit last week.

This newspaper had reported on October 26 about patients being referred to private diagnostic centres for the dengue test by the general hospital.

“No more are people being sent or referred to private diagnostic centres,” the medical officer-in-charge said. “NS1AG is the test done for early detection. It’s available in the hospital.”

There are about four private diagnostic centres in the town that conducted the test to detect dengue at an early stage. These diagnostic service centres charged Nu 500 per test.

However, many patients had complained of increasing fees due to the high number of people seeking the test.

Meanwhile, there have been more than 350 dengue positive cases reported at the Phuentsholing general hospital.

About 20 positive cases of dengue were reported on October 31, when the general hospital initiated its early detection facilities. Everyday about 10 dengue positive cases are reported.

Most cases are among those Bhutanese who live across the border in Jaigaon.

Rajesh Rai | Phuentsholing