Dengue claims 10th life

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The BBMP continues to deny that there is a serious dengue outbreak in the city and has gone to the extent of threatening to file a complaint against the doctor who has given a report confirming that the death of the latest victim, 28-year-old Dakshayani, on Friday, was due to dengue.

Another victim, Suresh (32), a resident of Sarkar Guttahalli in Hoskote, who was being treated at Medihope hospital in C.V. Raman Nagar for complaints of fever and chill, died the same day.

The family of Dakshayini staged a dharna to protest the BBMP’s inaction but this too has not moved the civic body.

On Friday 28-year-old Dakshayani, living in JJ Nagar died of dengue at ESI Hospital, Rajajinagar. Dakshayani had been ill for the past 10 days and was admitted to the hospital on July 27.

According to the in-charge medical superintendent, ESI Hospital, Dakshayani died of dengue shock syndrome and her platelet count was very low when she was brought to the hospital. Besides, she was also diagnosed with multi organ failure.

This is the tenth death due to dengue in the past 15 days, which should warrant an emergency like response from the BBMP. But all it says is that it is doing its bit to contain the spread of the disease.

Meanwhile, residents’ welfare associations in the city are now gearing up to sanitise their area on their own. RMV II Stage and Sanjaynagar Residents’ Welfare Association are educating the residents about keeping their surroundings clear of stagnant water, which is a major source for mosquito breeding.

“We have a vacant site at 5th Cross RMV II Stage, which has become a garbage dumping site. We have written repeated letters to the BBMP. They come once in a blue moon,” said a member of the association.

The residents of Richard’s Town are trying to keep their own properties clean but there’s not much they can do about public areas. Jacob, a resident of Davis Road said: “We are creating awareness about the proper way to manage our own garbage. But construction work on our Davis Road has caused large water stagnation. We now plan to complain to the contractor as this has become a nuisance and a major mosquito breeding ground.”

The BBMP health officer said that Dakshayini died of cerebral oedema and encephalopathy. Unless the National Institute of Virology, NIMHANS and Manipal confirm the dengue, no hospital must declare it, the officer said.