Of 11 deaths, 6 were probably dengue cases: Health Dept

Manmeet Singh Gill
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, October 29

A team of senior medical officials, led by Dr Anu Chopra Dosandh, State Programme Officer, National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme, today visited Ajnala to review the reports related to 11 “dengue” deaths.

After reviewing the reports, the team stated only six were suspected dengue patients as two had died of cancer, one of liver failure, one of cerebrovascular accident and another of organ failure. Dr Anu said that all six suspected cases of dengue would be reviewed in detail by the district dengue death review committee which would pinpoint the exact reason behind the deaths.

Recently, a news report regarding spurt in deaths was published in these columns after residents alleged that at least 11 people had lost their lives. Though the Health Department has being maintaining that no death has been caused by dengue in the current season, families of many have reported that the deceased were undergoing treatment for dengue.

The other team members included District Epidemiologist Dr Madan Mohan, Assistant Malaria Officer Bhadar Singh and State Entomologist Nijat Inder Singh.

Meanwhile, the district Health Department, in a press release, stated that the reason behind the death of ACP Kamaldeep Singh was not dengue as reported in a section of the media. Officials said the treating hospital had reported shock and involvement of multiple organs as the reasons behind the death. It was stated that the dengue test of the deceased ACP was negative.

Dr Om Parkash, Senior Medical Officer, Civil Hospital, Ajnala, said they had increased the vigil to look for and destroy mosquito larva in the area. He said the private hospitals had been advised not to conduct Rapid Card Dengue Test as it is not recognised by the government.

He said, “If any dengue suspect goes to private hospitals, the confirmatory tests should be done from either the Civil Hospital or Guru Nanak Dev Hospital Amritsar.”