West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday sought to downplay incidents of dengue deaths in the State, claiming there had been just 40-odd fatalities. And 27 of these reported dengue deaths were contestable, she added.

She continued to train her guns on private hospitals and diagnostic laboratories, alleging that they are “creating panic” and carrying out “irrelevant” blood tests in order to rake in profits. Urging them to be “humane”, she said: “We have already taken action against three diagnostic labs for carrying out unrequired tests and there. More will to follow.”

Reports said nearly 21,000 people in the State are suffering from the disease. And, private hospitals and diagnostic laboratories continue to receive patients. According to Mamata, of the 40 reported deaths, 13 have been confirmed by government hospitals.

“There are 27 more reported deaths from private hospitals, which we are looking into. However, we will cross-check facts and only then say whether the cause of these deaths was dengue or not,” she said at a press conference.

The deaths in Bengal are much lower than in other States like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala or even Assam, she said. “We are larger in size than most States like Gujarat or Assam. But even then dengue deaths here are much fewer. There is no reason to panic,” she added. .

The State government has asked civic bodies and panchayats to take preventative action, she further said.

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