Dengue claims nine lives in State

Health Minister Aravind Limbavali on Saturday said dengue fever had claimed nine lives in the State.

Speaking to reporters after holding a review meeting with the officials, the minister said one death was reported from Devanahalli, Bangalore Rural district, on Saturday.  So far, 134 suspected dengue cases have been reported.
Limbavali, however, said there is no need to panic.

“Dengue is a strange fever. It can take any turn at any moment. People have to take precautionary measures, especially preventing stagnation of water, to check breeding of mosquitoes. The department will take up a public campaign to spread awareness among people in this regard,” he said.

Limbavali said 28 people have died due to H1N1 and 369 suspected cases have been reported. A large number of cases were reported from Udupi, Shimoga and Davanagere districts. Two people in the city have died of suspected dengue. One of the viticms was 55-year-old Halamma of Ramammurthy Nagar and the other was 16- year-old Vishnu S.

Vishnu was undergoing treatment at the Chinmaya Hospital at Indiranagar. Sources in the hospital said Vishnu had been suffering from high fever since Friday. It was yet to be confirmed whether he died of dengue. BBMP chief health officer Dr Manjula said the department is yet to receive confirmation and reports on both cases.

However, the BBMP refuted any dengue deaths in the City outright. A BBMP press note said Halamma alias Bibi Jaan did not die of dengue but due to diabetes and high blood pressure.

Regarding the death of Vishnu at Chinmaya Hospital, BBMP said the hospital which cited dengue fever, thrombocytopnia and dengue shock syndrome, did not send the blood sample of the deceased to  National Institute of Virology at  Victoria Hospital, which is a must to ascertain dengue as the actual cause of death.
“Because the hospital did not send the blood sample to NIV, it is doubtful whether Vishnu died of dengue,” said the release. Both the deaths due to “suspected dengue” occurred at Vijinapura in the City.