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  Mumbai sees spurt in dengue cases in September

Mumbai sees spurt in dengue cases in September

AGE CORRESPONDENT
Published : Sep 21, 2016, 2:50 am IST
Updated : Sep 21, 2016, 2:50 am IST

There has been a spurt in the number of dengue cases recorded in the city in September, as compared to the corresponding figure last month.

A civic worker fumigates a mosquito-breeding site
 A civic worker fumigates a mosquito-breeding site

There has been a spurt in the number of dengue cases recorded in the city in September, as compared to the corresponding figure last month. While there were 122 confirmed dengue cases reported in August, this month has already seen the number increase to 160.

According to the latest figures that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has released, 2,058 patients with symptoms of dengue were admitted to civic hospitals till September 15. Of that number, 160 patients have tested positive for the vector-borne disease.

The corporation, however, has only a couple of dengue testing centres at the most. This is despite the fact that the BMC has claimed that it has taken assertive steps to curb cases of viral fever, malaria and dengue. Even the number of doctors and specialised wards are too few compared to the rising incidence of such diseases.

Two deaths from dengue were reported in the city between September 1 and 15. That apart, 2,058 cases of suspected dengue, 6,192 cases of viral fever, 426 cases of suspected malaria and 17 confirmed cases of leptospirosis have been reported in the city in the same timeframe.

A BMC official said: “All our peripheral hospitals have rapid diagnostic kits available there and the medical colleges are equipped with an ELISA diagnostic facility, which is a test that’s conducted to confirm dengue.”

ELISA facilities are also available at three peripheral hospitals, namely Rajawadi Hospital in the eastern suburbs and Cooper Hospital and Babasaheb Ambekar Hospital in the western suburbs.

Dr Avinash Supe, the dean of KEM Hospital, said, “We have been treating a number of patients for dengue, malaria and viral fever. Our workload is tremendous, but we are being able to manage it.” Dr Om Shrivastav, the director of the department of infectious diseases at Jaslok Hospital, said, “Yes, cases of dengue, malaria and viral fever are on the rise in spite of treatment facilities available at civic hospitals. The BMC should probe why this is happening.”

Number Illness 2,058 Suspected dengue cases 6,192 Viral fever cases in civic hospitals 426 Suspected cases of malaria 160 Confirmed cases of dengue 17 Confirmed lepto cases Figures recorded in civic hospitals during September 1-15