Around 41 die of suspected dengue, viral fever in UP
New Delhi : The Uttar Pradesh government has transferred the chief medical officer of Firozabad after at least 41 people, mostly children, died of suspected dengue and viral fever.
According to a government order, Dr Dinesh Kumar Premi will be the new CMO of Firozabad. Till now, he held the charge of the additional CMO in Hapur.
CMO Neeta Kulshresth has been transferred from Firozabad as senior consultant of Aligarh's Malkhan Singh District Hospital, the order said. The order, however, did not mention the reason for the transfer.
Additional Director (Health) of Agra Division A K Singh and Firozabad Government Medical College Principal Sangeeta Aneja told reporters that 41 people, mostly children, died due to viral fever and suspected dengue in the past over 10 days.
A team of the ICMR has reached Firozabad to tack stock of the situation, which has caused widespread concern. Earlier on Tuesday, Firozabad BJP MLA Manish Asija had claimed that 44 people died of suspected dengue in the district since August 22-23.
"Till now, 32 children and seven adults have died," the Chief Minister had said after the visit, adding that the death of children will be probed to ascertain its reason by a team from King George's Medical University in Lucknow.
The additional director said an 18-member medical team including members from Agra, Meerut and Kanpur has reached Firozabad to assist in tackling the disease.
In addition, a surveillance team is moving around in the affected areas of Firozabad to know about the mosquitoes spreading the disease. Aneja said 538 people got themselves examined at the medical college of Firozabad and 126 of them were found suffering from dengue.
They said of 300 beds available in the medical college, 240 are occupied at present. An additional 100 beds are being added to cater to the surging numbers of patients.
