Leaves of Doctors, Paramedical Staff in UP Cancelled as Dengue Cases Rise

Lucknow: Hospital bed occupancy in Lucknow and other parts of Uttar Pradesh (UP) has increased with the rapid rise in dengue cases. Leaves of doctors and paramedical staff at government hospitals have been cancelled, according to an order of the director general (DG) of medical health.

“Keeping in view the dengue cases and upcoming festivals, leaves to doctors and paramedical staff should not be allowed unless the circumstances are unavoidable,” a letter issued by the DG to chief medical officers, additional directors and heads of all government hospitals reads.

Dengue cases crossed the 3,000 mark as 350 new cases were reported across the state with doctors reporting a more than 50% increase in infections over the last month. Lucknow reported more than 400 cases.

“There has been an increase in the number of dengue patients. We are admitting 10-20 patients daily. There are some cases of other viral fevers, malaria and chikungunya as well. We have set up a fever clinic from where patients are referred to the 100-bed fever ward. Currently, the ward is full. If there is a need, the number of beds will be increased,” a senior doctor of Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences (RMLIMS) requesting anonymity told Newsclick.

The most affected districts include Firozabad with 5,762 cases, Prayagraj, Lucknow, Ghaziabad, Jaunpur, Varanasi, Aligarh, Ayodhya, Badaun and Meerut. 

The situation is so serious that there is no guarantee of getting a bed. Only patients who are bleeding or have a platelet count of less than 40,000 are admitted.

“We were running from pillar to post to get a bed at RMLIMS. The situation is so pathetic that every second patient is either suffering from dengue or some kind of fever. But there is no guarantee of recovering in a certain time as doctors are hardly concerned about the grim situation,” Sandeep, whose elder brother has dengue, told Newsclick. 

Dr Harsih of King George’s Medical University (KGMU) said, “Nearly one-third of the patients are infected with dengue. There has been a 30%-40% increase in the number of dengue cases we are handling in the last two weeks.”

When asked why there is a sudden spurt in dengue cases, Kauser Usman, senior faculty, KGMU, said several areas are waterlogged due to recent heavy rain. “Mosquitos will breed if water is stagnant for a few days and the day’s temperature rises. This could further add to dengue cases,” he told Newsclick. 

Last week, the Union health ministry deputed a high-level multi-disciplinary team to UP to collaborate with the state government in instituting public health measures for dengue management in Firozabad, Agra and Etawah districts.

A private hospital in Prayagraj was sealed on Thursday for allegedly transfusing fruit juice instead of platelets to a dengue patient who later died. The family of the deceased alleged that the patient, Pradeep Pandey, was transfused with sweet lemon juice and chemicals in a platelets bag. After the patient’s condition deteriorated, he was shifted to another hospital where he died, according to officials.

After a video of the alleged incident went viral on social media, the district administration sealed the hospital at the direction of deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak.