Dengue cases plague Kalanagar, Mumbai death toll at five

The number of cases of dengue are rising in Kalanagar area in Bandra east.
According to doctors in the area, 3-4 cases of patients are diagnosed with the disease daily.

This follows the death of a 16-year-old boy who was suffering from dengue in the same area on Friday. The victim had tested positive for the NS1 antigen test that detects dengue said BMC officials. The boy’s death takes the dengue death toll in the city to five this year.

The victim, a resident of Vinay Nagar Housing Society, Bandra (East), was treated at Gurunanak Hospital. He later moved to Asian Heart Hospital (AHI) in Bandra-Kurla Complex but succumbed to multiple-organ failure.

Dilip Bagane, a resident of the government colony in Bandra east said, “At least four people in my building are down with dengue. My wife was tested positive for dengue two days back.”

Dr Subodh Kedia, general physician practising at Kalanagar-Bandra confirmed the rise of dengue cases. He said, “I am seeing 3-4 new cases every day.

However, there is no need to panic. The cases are not so severe that the patients need to be admitted.” However, Dr Kedia advises people to get themselves checked in case of a fever and warns against self-medication.

Contrary to what they expected, the BMC survey found that 50% of the dengue cases were observed in non-slum residents. This has lead to BMC’s health department conducting regular awareness programs at residential complexes.

Unlike malaria, BMC claims that finding breeding spot of mosquito responsible in spreading dengue is difficult as the aedes mosquitoes breed in fresh and clean stagnant water. The BMC has also enrolled the NSS and medical students to spread awareness among residents. According to civic officials, seven wards have contributed to over 70% of the city’s dengue cases. Since the onset of the monsoon, nearly 300 cases have been reported, while several hundred have been labeled as ‘suspected cases’. Overall, 484 dengue cases have been officially recorded this year, about half the number of the cases reported in 2012.