The spread of dengue has assumed alarming proportions in the State with 86 patients undergoing treatment in various hospitals across 15 districts. Of these patients, the conditions of 10 were stated to be critical. Sources said a total of 993 blood samples have been tested so far and 66 of them have been identified as dengue positive through NS-1 ELISA test and 20 others through IGM ELISA test. The patients include 17 persons from Jajpur district and 11 each from Cuttack and Khordha district. While the State Government says only one person has died of dengue so far, unofficial sources have put the number at a bigger mark. The State Government has claimed that Gangadhar Sethi of Jagatsinghpur district, who died of dengue on July 28, had carried the virus from Bengaluru. Similarly, 20 other patients, presently under treatment, have also carried the virus from other States. However, senior doctors and experts have ruled out such contention stating that the rate and intensity of infection is far more acute this year than last year. They further pointed out that the dengue infection has gone beyond just fever. As many as 10 patients have suffered hemorrhages this year, they said.