Prompted by the recent largescale episode of dengue in West Bengal and across the country, the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST), Shibpur has set up a cell for "reliable detection" of vector-borne diseases like dengue, malaria and chikungunya and to carry out research to find out reasons behind such large scale outbreak.
 

"At our Centre for Health Science and Technology (CHST), we have formed a cell for reliable detection of vector-borne diseases like dengue, malaria and chikungunya and do research to find out reasons behind such large-scale outbreak," IIEST Director A.K. Ray said in a Facebook post. The recent "large scale outbreak of dengue in Bengal and across the country" prompted IIEST to set up the cell at its hospital under the monitoring of the CHST, he said. 

"We have procured two ELISA machines which are being used to detect vector-borne diseases at the institute hospital. In recent weeks, some students have reported for treatment at the hospital with fever and other related symptoms. We have conducted NS 1 antigen tests on some of our students - suffering from fever - with commercially available kits to detect dengue and malaria," he said.

The centre will very soon have Polymerase Chain Reaction system for specific serotype detection. "The PCR is different from the Elisa test. Such advanced methods will be much more reliable," said Ray."We would like to extend the facilities to patients from adjoining slum areas, if situation arises, without any cost," he added.