Trainee nurses flee Lady Dufferin

On Sunday, as blood samples collected from 20 trainees tested positive, irate guardians of the boarders came and took their wards home. After the puja vacations, 64-odd boarders at the nurses training hostel had returned to Kolkata.

Hospital Superintendent Tanima Mandal tried to explain the steps taken by the hospital. But most guardians claimed that they had not been informed about the outbreak. Police had to be called in to ensure that there was no chaos.

8220;The blood samples have tested positive though most of them have don8217;t have the symptoms yet. Owing to the early detection, they can get cured,8221; said a health department official.

The Director, Health services, Sanchita Bakshi, said the hospital had offered medical support to the trainees, but the guardians were 8220;adamant8221; and didn8217;t want to keep the wards any more at the hostel.

8220;The health department cannot take responsibility for those who moved out. The hospital authorities were told to release them after the parents gave an undertaking,8221; Bakshi said.

Construction has been going on at the hospital for several months and water has been stored in many places. No fumigation has been done on these stored water and mosquitoes breeding is rampant, the workers at the hospital said.

The state health department has issued epidemic warning at Shyambazar, Hatibagan, Jorasanko, Bidhan sarani, Amherst street, Ripon street, Park Circus, Camac street, Bhowanipore, Jodhpur park, Lake Gardens, Chetla, Behala and Tollygunge.