Two children in lakhibagh area of the Capital city have died from dengue. However, a beleaguered district health department is confirming death of only one child.
It is learnt that these kids were getting treatment in the private hospitals of the city and blood sample of one of them was not taken by the health department for Enzyme linked Immunosorbent Assay (ElISA) which is a confirmatory test for dengue. Both these deaths reportedly occurred on August 15.
The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Dehradun, Dr YS Thapliyal, told The Pioneer that the blood sample of the 10- year old Raja, son of Nagendra of lakhibagh area of the city, was found positive for the disease. He said that the child was first taken to Doon hospital from where his parents had shifted him to a private hospital located in Patel Nagar.
The District Vector Borne diseases Officer, JP Bahuguna said that the parents of the child told them that he was suffering from vomiting and diarrhea but since the child was administered six units of platelets and was found positive for dengue, the department is counting it as a dengue death.
He, however, negated that the death of other child in the same area has occurred due to dengue. Though the department officials are not confirming the second death, the parents of the child –an eight-year old girl-are claiming that the death occurred due to dengue.
The news of deaths of the two children shocked the residents of lakhibagh area. Angry residents took to the streets on late Wednesday night and shouted slogans against the district administration for its lax approach.
These deaths have also exposed the district health department’s claim of anti dengue activity in all parts of the city. The Pioneer had earlier warned that the concentration of anti-dengue drive in Patharibagh area could prove dangerous as the city has many dengue hot spots.
The department is holding regular camps in Patharibagh area ever since the outbreak was reported in media and CM and Health Minister visited the area. Interestingly another place where the department set up anti dengue camp was Yamuna Colony, the locality where majority of ministers reside.
Dehradun district is threatened with epidemic like situation of dengue as 333 cases of disease have been reported from here till date. No ElIZA test of suspected cases of the disease was done on Thursday due to holiday of Rakhsabandan. Interestingly the capital city contributes to majority of dengue cases in the State (346). Nainital with a tally of 13 dengue patients is the only other district where the dengue cases are being reported.