Man dies of suspected dengue,12th case in city

According to Narayani,the deceased had acute febrile haemorrhagic condition and was suffering from high fever and rashes. “The symptoms he showed were similar to dengue. However,he tested negative in the ELISA test. We treated him for two ailments — swine flu and dengue — just to be sure,” she said.

The hospital is now awaiting the swine flu results and has termed the death as suspected dengue death. Narayani added that ELISA test could go wrong on rare occasions.

“Chaudhary had a history of dengue and his platelet count was rapidly falling,which clinically indicates possibility of a dengue fever,” Narayani said.

Relatives of Chaudhary,however,claimed he was lactose intolerant and was fed curd by the hospital management. Narayani said the hospital stopped giving him curd as soon as they were informed about his allergy. Lactose intolerance,however,cannot lead to death,she said.

The city has noted a rise in dengue cases since the onset of monsoon. While 660 cases were reported by civic-run hospitals this year,as many as 615 suspected cases were reported from 38 private hospitals. “The 615 cases were all rapid test positive. Since an ELISA test had not been conducted,we are treating these as suspected dengue cases,” said Dr Mangala Gomare,deputy executive health officer in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay test (ELISA) is the only confirmatory test for verifying dengue fever. While rapid test provides instant results,ELISA results take longer. According to National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP),the disease has rampantly spread in rural areas of Haryana,Maharashtra and Karnataka,and is prevalent in almost all cities of the country.

While BMC is adhering to NVBDCP guidelines,it has taken additional steps such as awareness campaigns to curb the menace. Apart from camps,the civic authorities are also issuing notices to residential societies,offices and institutes that have failed to keep a check on breeding spots of Aedes aegypti — the carrier of dengue virus. So far,11,400 housing societies have been approached to raise awareness on to prevention of mosquito breeding,said Gomare.

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