6-year-old is state's first dengue casualty

6-year-old is state's first dengue casualty
TNN

PANAJI: Goa recorded its first dengue death when a six-year-old boy from Calangute succumbed to the disease at the Goa Medical College and
Hospital, Bambolim on Thursday morning.

Godfrey Fernandes was admitted to a private hospital in Mapusa on Tuesday with a history of fever, pain in the abdomen and vomiting. As the child's condition was critical, the hospital sent his blood samples for a rapid test which revealed that he was suffering from dengue. On Wednesday evening he was shifted to GMC. He died on Thursday morning.

Calling it a "clinical case of dengue", GMC doctors told TOI that the child's blood samples have been sent for the more reliable MAC Elisa test to confirm if the child was suffering from dengue or leptospirosis. "This test is more reliable than the rapid test," doctors revealed.

Deputy director of health services, Dr Deepak Kabadi, said, "Clinically, the child died of what is known as the dengue shock syndrome (complicated dengue fever). We have sent the blood samples for microbiological examination and the report is awaited. Once we get the report, then only will be able to call it a confirmed case of dengue death."

This year, 49 people tested positive for dengue in Goa. Private doctors in the city added, "This year, we have seen an increase of 10 to 15% in dengue cases."

Meanwhile, a 10-year-old boy from Tiswadi tested positive for H1N1. The child had no travel history and health authorities are trying to find out how he got infected. They have also done follow-up drives in the school where the child is studying and said that till date no other suspected case of H1N1 has been found in the school.

18 September 2009,The Times of India, Goa edition