Western Ahmedabad worst hit by dengue

AHMEDABAD: In

civic body hospitals

and

urban health centres

alone, around 250 cases of

chikungunya and dengue

were reported over the past month-and-a-half, indicates data of the

Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation

(AMC). Of these cases, 116 were reported in October. The western part of the city is the worst affected. “Increasing number of cases are being reported in West Zone and New West Zone,” said Bhavin Solanki, the medical officer of health, AMC.

AMC health officials blamed the disease spike on changing weather patterns. “The daytime temperatures continue to remain on the higher side,” Solanki said. “That produces favourable conditions for the breeding of aedes aegypti mosquito which causes dengue and chikungunya.”

Even private practitioners have seen a sudden spurt in dengue and chikungunya cases, with patients coming with persistent high-grade fever and severe pain in the joints. “Even as complexities have gone significantly down thanks to growing awareness and prompt treatment, most patients have abysmally low platelet count, which continues to be a worry. This reduces the patient’s immunity significantly,” said Dr Mehul Shelat, a family physician.

Many patients are also reporting gastrointestinal disturbances.