So why is BMC hiding dengue death count?
While hospitals have been informing the civic body, the corporation has been lax in reporting updated figures of fatalities in various parts of the city.
On a day when it came to light that the cause of death of a Chembur woman who passed away on October 31 was dengue, serious questions are being raised about whether the civic body has been constantly trying to under-report these cases. The toll as of Wednesday night stands at 18. Of this, less than half have been announced by the BMC.
In almost every other case, the BMC has admitted that a certain death was caused due to dengue only after the media confronted officials with details. On the other hand, hospitals maintain they have been diligently notifying the BMC about each dengue death as soon as possible.
When questioned about late reporting by the civic body, officials have only been evasive. “The hospital authorities informed the local ward officer. I did not get to know about the death,” said BMC’s epidemiologist Dr Mangala Gomare, referring to the most recent case that surfaced on Wednesday.
Gomare added that she has ordered an enquiry and asked the wards to report deaths to the head quarters immediately.
Click below for more reports
3 more die of dengue, toll 18
City docs worry over rising trend of infant dengue cases
On a day when it came to light that the cause of death of a Chembur woman who passed away on October 31 was dengue, serious questions are being raised about whether the civic body has been constantly trying to under-report these cases. The toll as of Wednesday night stands at 18. Of this, less than half have been announced by the BMC.
In almost every other case, the BMC has admitted that a certain death was caused due to dengue only after the media confronted officials with details. On the other hand, hospitals maintain they have been diligently notifying the BMC about each dengue death as soon as possible.
Worse, a recent study carried out by the KEM doctors published in the American Journal of Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases said the Parel hospital alone witnessed as many as 22 dengue deaths in 2013. The BMC’s figure for the period? 12. Last month, a study published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene stated that the cases of dengue are 282 times higher than officially reported in India.
When questioned about late reporting by the civic body, officials have only been evasive. “The hospital authorities informed the local ward officer. I did not get to know about the death,” said BMC’s epidemiologist Dr Mangala Gomare, referring to the most recent case that surfaced on Wednesday.
Gomare added that she has ordered an enquiry and asked the wards to report deaths to the head quarters immediately.
Click below for more reports
3 more die of dengue, toll 18
City docs worry over rising trend of infant dengue cases
