Dreaded dengue claimed the life of one more woman on Wednesday evening, taking the toll in the city and surrounding areas to five over the last few days. But the BBMP, which has confirmed only two deaths till now, again refused to say that Wednesday’s death was due to dengue. The latest victim, Shobha Rajkumar (33), a resident of Jeevanbimanagar, was in hospital for the last one week. She was diagnosed with suspected dengue fever and died on Wednesday evening at a private hospital in Indiranagar. She is survived by her husband Rajkumar, who is a driver, and 14-year-old son.
She was admitted to Chinmaya Mission Hospital in Indiranagar about a week ago. After she was diagnosed with dengue, hospital authorities asked her relatives to take her to another hospital for better treatment. She was shifted to Axon Hospital in Indiranagar and admitted to the intensive care unit.Axon Hospital confirmed that she died of dengue. “She was admitted last Saturday. We had informed her family members that she was suffering from advanced stages of dengue and of poor prognosis,” the hospital authorities said.
“The patient had come with a letter that stated she was tested positive for dengue and her platelet count was low. She was immediately shifted to the ICU and the treatment was given in the presence of her husband, Mr Rajkumar. Her brain and lungs had already been affected due to high fever,” hospital authorities said. When dengue reaches the haemorrhagic fever stage, platelet count dips and the patient begins to bleed internally, leading to multiple organ failure, the authorities said.
Dr Lokesh, health officer (south zone) and nodal officer for vector diseases, told Deccan Chronicle, “If there is a dengue death we will take more serious action. Health officers in that area will attend to the case. Meanwhile, the BBMP has taken up fogging and awareness programmes on a large scale.”