Bhubaneswar:  The specter of dengue has returned to haunt Odisha again as the State witnessed the season’s first death due to the mosquito-borne disease, an official said today.

The deceased has been identified as Pratima Das, 48, a resident of BDA Colony in Chandrasekharpur area in the city.

Confirming the news, State Health Services Director Braja Kishore Bramha said the woman was undergoing treatment in a private hospital and died on late Wednesday night.

Das, a diabetic with hypertension, tested positive a few days ago. Her previous disease made her condition more critical leading to her death, he added.

The total number of positive cases in the capital city touched 11 since January this year, sources said adding the BDA Colony in Chandrasekharpur area is the most affected place.

Bramha said this year so far 48 blood samples have tested positive out of 20000 samples tested in the State against 45 tested positive out of 10,000 samples tested last year.

According to National vector borne disease control programme (NVBDCP), the State has witnessed 4,108 positive cases and six dengue deaths last year. Similarly, 8,380 positive cases and 11 deaths were reported in 2016.

Worth mentioning, aedes aegypti, a mosquito which spreads dengue fever, can breed in clean water.