Doctors warn against dengue, chikungunya

Two minor girls died at the Vanivilas Hospital recently, with symptoms that were similar to dengue.

Although doctors did not confirm the two as dengue deaths, they said platelet counts in both cases had dropped dangerously low.

Till May this year, the hospital has received 10 suspected cases of dengue, of which two were confirmed after blood samples were sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) for testing.

The NIV has recorded seven confirmed dengue cases and four chikungunya cases in May and June this year.

Victoria Hospital receives about five fresh cases of dengue everyday at their outpatient department and at present six patients are admitted, including an MBBS student of the hospital.

Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital has not received any dengue cases yet, but doctors at the hospital say they are prepared as Bowring received the highest number of cases last year.

Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health has received two suspected cases of dengue this year. Doctors at the hospital said even extreme cases of dengue can be cured by monitoring the patient without transfusing any additional platelets.

K C General Hospital, which had received many dengue and chikungunya cases last year, is taking ample precautionary measures at the hospital premises which is under renovation. Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr Vimala Patil, said: “Wet, moist buildings attract mosquitoes, so we are sealing our windows with nets and using electric repellants to protect patients from mosquito bites.”

According to BBMP records, from January this year, 10 cases of chikungunya and nine cases of dengue have been reported so far.