With Inputs from Yahya Hallare
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Jun 17: In what can be called as the first dengue-related casualty in Dakshina Kannada district this season, a man from Beltangady taluk lost his life due to suspected dengue in a private hospital in the city late night on Monday June 15. A recently-married woman from Bhatkal also died of dengue the same day in Mangaluru.
Umesh, son of Sanjeeva Gowda from Kataje House in Neriya village, Beltangady taluk, was suffering from prolonged fever when he was admitted into a hospital here on Saturday. He breathed his last on Monday night.
The Dakshina Kannada district health department however, is yet to confirm Umesh's diagnosis. District health officer, Dr Ramakrishna Rao, said that the department will confirm the diagnosis after getting reports from the hospital and doctors who treated the patient, and after verifying the reports.
Fathima Fiza (23) of Magdoom Colony, Bhatkal who died of the fever at a hospital in the city.
Fiza had married Sawood Kundunguda just five months ago. This was the fourth death in Karnataka due to dengue fever, it is learnt.
Fiza’s close relatives said that after staying in Bengaluru for about a month and half, she came to Bhatkal on June 4 and the very next day on June 5 she got fever. She got the dengue fever from Bengaluru. Fiza was admitted to Bhatkal Welfare Hospital with fever and headache. She was admitted for four days there but the fever only increased. She was then shifted to Mangaluru on Saturday June 13. She was better on Sunday June 14 evening, but all of a sudden, she started vomiting and the fever shot up. The doctors tried their best but she could not be saved. She breathed her last on June 16.
Speaking to reporters, her family members said that doctors confirmed she was suffering from dengue.
The Dakshina Kannada district health department is battling to effectively handle the outbreak of dengue and malaria in taluks like Beltangady, Sullia, Putttur and Bantwal. Although the first dengue case this year was reported from Beltangady sometime back, the people feel, the health department did not act promptly. Fogging has been resorted since a couple of days now. As villagers are panicky, there appears to be a need for more positive measures and spreading awareness about dengue and malaria.