Two die: Chikungunya, dengue suspected

Ludhiana: Two deaths, one of suspected chikungunya and the other of suspected dengue, were reported in city on Sunday evening.

First casualty was Ravinder Kaur, 34, of Kochar Market. She was admitted to CMC Hospital after her condition deteriorated on October 21. The other deceased was an 11-year-old, who died at DMC.

The relatives of Kaur said the doctors informed them that she died of chikungunya. The hospital authorities, however, remained reticent, saying they could not comment on it and that the information should be sought from the district health department.

Parampal Singh, brother-in-law of the deceased, said she was running fever and had joint pains. First, the doctors suspected that it was dengue, but later called it chikungunya.

Dr Ramesh Kumar, district epidemiologist, said they could not say anything without knowing the patient’s history. They would seek her file from the hospital and forward it to the review committee of the health department that would take the final decision on the reason. “We are yet to get reports from the hospitals on both the deaths,” he added.

In the second case, doctors told parents of 11-year-old Amandeep Singh of Haibowal that he was suffering from dengue. Dr Ramesh said this case would also be put before the review committee.

Meanwhile, confusion prevails over dengue and chikungunya as the health department is not accepting reports of private hospitals and clinics and cases are rising in the city. The officials at the health department said there were various other viral diseases that were affecting people and they could not accept the tests of private clinics.

Earlier there were five suspected dengue deaths in the district, but the officials claimed otherwise.