Sumitra Deb Roy, TNN
MUMBAI: The BMC’s insecticide department on Wednesday found at least four breeding spots of the dengue-spreading aedesegypti mosquitoes near the dengue victim’s house in the Koliwada area of Worli. OmkarRaje (14) from the locality had died on Monday after fighting the viral infection for nearly three weeks.
Several spots of water accumulation were found on the roof of Omkar’s residence. Raje had died of multiple complications, including stroke, viral encephalitis, acute respiratory distress syndrome and kidney failure- all known complications of dengue. Insecticide officer R Naringrekar said, “We have inspected the entire area and found four breeding spots in inaccessible areas. We carried out fogging and also treated stored water with medicines. But only active participation from people can bring the mosquito menace down.”
While Raje was this year’s first dengue victim, the city has already recorded 319 cases, so far. Around a third of dengue cases in the state are from the city. Maharashtra fares fourth in high dengue states at 965. It has reported around 19 deaths, and is second only to Kerala that has reported the most deaths at 20.
Dengue’s virulence has become a cause for concern; its manifestations have baffled doctors.
Physician Dr Pratik Samdani, who consults at Bhatia Hospital, said he has treated at least three patients whose heart rates dipped to as low as 40. “Involvement of the heart is not supposed to be that common,” he said.
A senior doctor from KEM Hospital warned of cross-infections, or the same person getting infected with different strains. “Dengue is of four types, and infection with one type provides immunity only against that type. So, if a person gets infected with a different type, the disease could be deadly,” the doctor added.
Meanwhile, a patient from Ambernath, admitted to Sion Hospital has tested positive for H1N1. Another pregnant woman remains under treatment at Kasturba Hospital in Chinchpokli.
