The Times of India 24.10.2014
‘NMMC must be proactive to help prevent dengue’
Navi
Mumbai: While the civic body insists that there is no need to panic
about the spread of dengue, the private hospitals advise caution. Going
by the civic health department figures, there has been no suspected
dengue cases in October so far and 18 cases in September (number of
confirmed cases not available) this year.
General
physician Dr Farah Ingle, who consults at MGM Hospital and Fortis
Hospital in Vashi, said that in October alone around 200 cases have been
confirmed at both hospitals. “Patients have been coming in with a low
platelet count of around 7,000 to 8,000 (normal count is between 1.5 and
4.5 lakh),” she said. She blamed mosquito menace, heat and erratic
rainfall for the rise in the number of dengue patients.
Clearing stagnant water is the first preventive step, she added. “The
civic body should play a larger role and fumigation should be done
frequently,” she said.
Dr Sandeep Sonawane, specialist,
internal medicine, at Sai Snehdeep Hospital in Koparkhairane said that
in October almost 30 cases have been admitted to the hospital. “Climatic
changes and the failure to control mosquito population are leading to
increase in such cases,” he said.
Dr Akshay Challani of Wockhardt Sterling Hospital in Vashi, said that there have been 22 dengue cases admitted in October.
An official from the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation health
department said that the civic body has launched an awareness campaign
to control the spread of dengue fever. “Fumigation, along with
distribution of pamphlets, is being done regularly,” said the official.
Civic chief health officer Deepak Paropkari was not available for comments.
