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Dengue claims its 19th victim in Mumbai

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A 28-year-old man from Khar-East has become the latest victim of dengue in the city. Though he died on November 16, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) confirmed the death only on Friday.

When was he admitted to hospital?
"The man was admitted to VN Desai Hospital in Santacruz East on November 8. He died within a week due to dengue," said Dr Mangala Gomare, epidemology in-charge in BMC. Doctors in VN Desai Hospital said the victim's platelet count had fallen rapidly and before they could salvage the situation, he had developed acute respiratory distress syndrome, a complication associated with dengue, and he couldn't be revived.

How many have died according to BMC?
With this death, the reported dengue toll this year has touched 19. BMC, however, is in a state of denial. At a death investigation committee meeting on Friday, BMC decided to keep the dengue death figure at 12. The official toll declared by the civic body overrides last year's toll which stood at 11. The committee has been formed to investigate suspected dengue deaths in the city.

How does BMC confirm a dengue death?
According to the BMC, since there is no standardization in reporting dengue deaths, its committee will have to check all medical records before declaring if a death had been caused because of dengue or not. While most doctors clinically diagnose dengue on the basis of symptoms and NS1 antigen rapid blood test, BMC insists that a confirmatory antibody test should also be conducted.

Types of virus prevalent in city
The city has been under the grip of the potent DEN2 and DEN4 virus type, which may lead to a patient's death within anywhere between 24 hours and four days. However, antibody tests can only be conducted after five days of the onset of the symptoms. A patient may not survive until confirmatory tests are conducted, in which case the deaths may go unreported by BMC.

How do they kill a victim?
K Radhkrishnan (52), Purnima Iyer (41) and the recent VN Desai Hospital victim are classic examples of the virulent form of the disease, which attacks multiple organs and causes internal bleeding, leading to death. BMC has to date reported 760 dengue cases in the city this year.

Key to recovery...
Dr Khusrav Bhajan, intensivist at PD Hinduja Hospital, said: "We have been witnessing a dip in the number of dengue cases in the last few days. Right time, right diagnosis and right combination of medicines is the key to recovery. People with co-morbid factor should be more careful in case they have fever. Self medication should be avoided."

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