Dengue fever is pushing Madurai district into a danger zone with 24 patients, who have tested positive for dengue, getting admitted in the last 24 hours at the Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) here.
The dengue virus also claimed one more life as a seven-year-old girl Harishakthi of Melur succumbed at the GRH on Friday. Her body was handed over to family members amidst emotional scenes at the paediatric wing of the hospital. The girl’s father Duraipandi runs a ‘murukku’ shop at Kadalaikara Street in Melur.
This was the second death reported from the GRH in the last 24 hours as a six-year-old boy Raja Pandi of A. Vellalapatti village in Melur block had died of fever on Thursday night.
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“We are taking steps on a war footing to attend to all confirmed and suspected dengue positive patients. Collector Anshul Mishra visited GRH in the morning and gave instructions to keep the doctors available round-the-clock for treating emergency cases,” N. Mohan, Dean, said.
With 24 new cases, the GRH has 71 patients, including adults and children, undergoing treatment. Doctors said that a few patients might be discharged soon depending upon their improvement.
A senior paediatrician in the GRH said that Harishakthi had low blood pressure and severe dengue symptoms. She died of cardiac arrest. “We tried to revive her but the girl died. Best possible treatment is being given to dengue affected children,” doctors said.
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The number of dengue cases in Madurai district will be more as several children are undergoing treatment in various private hospitals.