More malaria cases reported at NRS Hospital

While staff nurse Nomita Maiti was diagnosed with plasmodium vivax, students Geeta Dutta and Lolita were diagnosed with plasmodium falcifarum and dengue, respectively.

A staff nurse, Kaveri Bhowmik, had recently died after suffering from an unknown fever.

8220;It is not a surprise that those who treat the patients are now being affected with vector-borne diseases. Unhygienic conditions in hospitals provide a breeding ground for mosquitoes,8221; said Rituparna Mahapatra, Calcutta District secretary member of Medical Service Centre.

Maiti has been admitted to the emergency medicine ward. The hospital authorities have always neglected the regular notices sent by the KMC to clean up its premises, she said.

8220;Filth, stagnant water and unclean drains are a common site at the hospital premises. In spite of the recent outbreak of diseases, the authorities have not carried out any fogging on the campus,8221; added Maiti.

The recent cases have again highlighted the plight of the state-run hospitals, as staff and students of four of the biggest hospitals in the city 8212; NRS, SSKM, RG Kar and Lady Dufferin Hospital 8212; have repeatedly fallen prey to the diseases.

Lady Dufferin was one of the first hospitals, where nearly 25 trainee nurses were diagnosed with dengue in October.

Three hostellers of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital were recently diagnosed with plasmodium falcifarum. Sams Musafir, a fourth year student, said: 8220;A couple of deaths have already been reported in the locality, but the drains are still open and garbage piles are yet to be removed. The authorities have not taken notice of the situation.8221;