Aurangabad, Private doctors and hospitals have been directed by the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation's (AMC) health department to immediately notify health officials about patients with symptoms of dengue, as the corporation made dengue a notifiable disease like tuberculosis (TB).

The decision was taken at two review meetings recently conducted by the health department, said Manisha Bhondwe, civic vector-borne disease controlling officer.

The meetings were attended by the Members of the Indian Medical Association, Aurangabad branch, doctors from the Aurangabad Government Medical College and Hospital and representatives of non-governmental organizations.

If the private hospitals admit patients with dengue symptoms then they will have to inform health officials. This would help AMC curb the spread of the disease.

Making the disease notifiable would help them identify breeding spots, Bhondwe said.

She added that, of the seven positive cases reported since June 2016, six were from private hospitals.

A 24x7 epidemic control room,(0240) 2333536-40, has been opened and a rapid-response team has been deployed at 26 primary health centres and five hospitals, she added.