Dengue kills, source unclear

Dengue claimed 22-year-old Swapna Bhawekar8217;s life on Friday, sparking a debate over where she got the infection. Swapna lived in Pune Cantonment Board PCB area and worked in Pune Municipal Corporation PMC area.

Passing the buck Civic body stresses disease control measures, so does Cantonment Board

Dengue claimed 22-year-old Swapna Bhawekar8217;s life on Friday, sparking a debate over where she got the infection. Swapna lived in Pune Cantonment Board PCB area and worked in Pune Municipal Corporation PMC area. Both passed the buck, claiming they have taken adequate measures to tackle dengue. Each sought to indicate that Swapna had caught the disease outside its respective area, though neither went to the extent of blaming the other.

KEM Hospital authorities said Swapna, a resident of 15, Stavely Road, had been a ward assistant for two years at the hospital. She was admitted three days ago with fever and low blood pressure. Hers was one of the first dengue-induced deaths in four years at KEM Hospital. Dr Rajesh Gadia, chief of intensive care, KEM, said her condition deteriorated. Gadia said it was a rare case: dengue caused heart failure. Swapna was in coma and suffered from multi-organ failure. 8220;We tried our best to save her.8221;

It is not that dengue cases have been rare in recent months. Gadia has examined 120 patients since June. 8220;More than 50 were from Baramati, Daund and Ahmednagar. A major chunk was from Bhawani Peth parts under PCB and Kondhwa under PMC as well as PCMC areas like Bhosari,8221; he said.

The National Institute of Virology confirmed a case of chikungunya, too, from Bhawani Peth. The PMC and PCB health departments claim there have not been too many cases this year. Dr S M Mahajan, PCB resident medical officer, said there were only six cases at Cantonment General Hospital. Mahajan, however, said many Cantonment residents seek treatment at city hospitals.

PCB stressed its own dengue control measures. PCB chief health superintendent V S Kulkarni said fogging was routine but residents near Stavely Road alleged spraying had been stopped.

At PMC, Dr Sadashiv Patole, health officer at the insect control department, said there were only 65 cases since January. He said PMC teams are constantly on the job8212;taking anti-larval measures and other precautions. 8220;We don8217;t know how the patient got the infection as she hails from the cantonment area,8221; Patole said.