7-Year-Old Girl Dies Of ‘Dengue’ In Odisha Capital

Bhubaneswar: A seven-year-old girl has allegedly died while undergoing treatment at a private hospital for dengue in Odisha capital, family sources claimed on Sunday.

This is reportedly the first dengue death in the state this season.

The deceased has been identified as Saismita Sahu (Pihu) of Dharma Vihar at Jagamara here.

According to sources, the girl tested positive for dengue, a few days ago, when her family members took her for a check-up as she was having fever. She was admitted to a private hospital here on Friday as her condition deteriorated. The family was told that she was suffering from fits and she was then put on ventilator. “The child could recognise everyone while in the emergency ward but once in the ICU, she stopped responding,” a relative told a local channel.

The seven-year-old reportedly suffered a brain stoke and went into comma during treatment. The family member, however, alleged that she died due to negligence of the hospital authorities.

Ward 63 corporator Sujata Chhotray said that awareness drive is on in the area and she has been personally visiting the ward along with the sanitation inspector. ““I am surprised after hearing the news. We have been asking people to remain vigilant. Treatment is being provided in government hospital, still people are taking the affected to private facilities,” she said.

Neither the BMC nor the hospital authorities could be contacted for their reactions on the allegation of Dengue death

Notably, dengue has spread its tentacle in Khurda region with total number of cases crossing 200 amid increased rainfall activity and inadequate sanitation measures. While 103 cases were detected in Bhubaneswar and nearby localities in June, another 77 was reported by July 16. The number of hotspots in the city have also increased to nine. – Acharya Vihar, Bhimatangi, Chandrasekharpur, CRP, IRC Village, Jayadev Vihar, Nayapalli, Pokhariput and Satya Nagar.  These places have recorded more than five cases each.