The city reported yet another case of dengue death on Monday. The 16-year-old Shruti, from Anekal, who was suffering from advanced stages of the fever, died at Narayana Hrudayalaya early on Monday morning. Dr Rajiv Agarwal, paediatrician at the hospital, said that Shruti was admitted to the hospital about four weeks ago. “She was brought to Narayana Hrudayalaya after receiving treatment at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health for a few days. At the time of admission with us, she was already suffering from advanced stages of dengue. Her blood test, done at our hospital laboratory, too returned positive.”
While undergoing treatment, her kidneys, lungs and liver failed. After a few days of hospitalisation, there was certain improvement in the condition of her lungs and liver, but kidneys failed to respond to treatment. “Generally, when a person is affected with dengue, the blood pressure goes down and affects functioning of vital organs. We were finding it hard to get her BP back to normal. Early Monday morning, she was declared dead,” he said.
With this, the number of dengue deaths in the city has gone up to five over the last one week. But till now, the BBMP has confirmed only two as dengue deaths. Dr Lokesh, Project Director, dengue and chikungunya control, BBMP said: “We have not received any report of dengue death on Monday. Since January 2012, we have registered 111 confirmed cases of dengue. Hospitals have to inform us once they get confirmed cases to help us take effective measures."
Around 90% of precautionary measures have to come from the public. They have to take steps to reduce sources of mosquito breeding, like stagnant water and puddles. “We have been spraying anti-larval medicines at regular intervals at all areas. If it is severe, we take up fogging in the affected areas. Houses will be penalized for allowing water to stagnate. The BBMP has been holding health camps and awareness sessions at different locations, especially in areas vulnerable to dengue, from today,” he said.