Patna, Oct 26 (IANS): At least 50 dengue cases have been reported in Bihar till Sunday, health officials said.

"Nearly 20 new dengue cases have been reported in the last three days in Patna and the total number of people afflicted with the disease rose to 50," said Sambhusaran Singh, a health department official.

He said the new cases have been reported from new localities here. "We are concerned as dengue is spreading to other areas in Patna," he said.

Sambhusaran Singh said officials have been asked to kill mosquito larvae and to clean areas. They have been directed to take preventive measures to check its spread.

He said the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) has set up a separate ward for dengue patients and the state government has issued an alert regarding the disease.

Dengue claimed one life in Patna last week when Abhay Kumar from Transport Nagar died, officials said.

PMCH official Sudhansu Kumar said a special dengue ward with 30 beds has been set up with 10 beds reserved for the emergency cases.

Dengue cases have been reported from Saharsa, Muzaffarpur, Nalanda, Aurangabad, Jehanabad, Samastipur, Saran, Nawada, Begusarai and Bhojpur districts, a health official said.