Will dengue succumb to BMC action in Mumbai?

Doctors have hinted at a steady rise in cases this year, and are worried by the number of heart patients who are showing symptoms of the mosquito-borne infection.

At 11 confirmed deaths and four suspected ones, this is the highest number of dengue fatalities the city has witnessed in the past few years. Further, 740 cases have been confirmed this year.

Doctors have hinted at a steady rise in cases this year, and are worried by the number of heart patients who are showing symptoms of the mosquito-borne infection.“There were three cases in which patients on blood thinners had contracted the dengue infection. We had to take them off blood thinners, so their platelet levels were not affected. In case of heart patients, the complications are much higher if they contract dengue,” said Dr VT Shah, cardiologist, Surana Hospital, Chembur.

Alarmed at this rise in mortality among dengue patients, the civic body has sent 13 blood samples to King George’s Medical University in Lucknow to rule out a mutation of the dengue virus.

“The cases that are reported are far less than the actual number. This is mainly because the cases reported to the civic body are from tertiary-care hospitals. The smaller nursing homes may not be reporting cases,” said Dr Jalil Parkar, general physician, Lilavati Hospital, Bandra.