The baby’s parents, sister, and grandfather died due to suspected dengue within a span of 15 days.
The three-day-old baby boy, the lone survivor of the family which died due to suspected dengue in Mancherial district of Telangana, was determined dengue negative on Friday. The ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) test confirmed that the baby did not contract dengue and its health condition is stable, confirmed District Medical Health Officer (DMHO), A Bhishma.
On Friday, the baby's health deteriorated after the platelet count in the blood dropped to 42,000 – one of the symptoms of dengue. The baby is presently being treated at a private hospital in Mancherial.
The baby’s uncle, E Raju told TNM, “We were extremely anxious when we were informed that the baby’s platelet count had dropped. We are still stressed about the baby’s condition. If the baby doesn't have dengue why the platelet count is dropping?”
Speaking to TNM, the DMHO Bhishma said, “The baby is stable. He did not contract dengue as we suspected. This was confirmed after we carried out ELISA test.”
The baby was born on Wednesday, and his mother Sona Gudimalla died on the same day to dengue after giving birth. The baby was kept under observation after this.
Tragedy struck the family in Mancherial as four persons from the same family died of suspected dengue. While Rajagattu, a private school teacher in Mancherial, succumbed on October 16, five days later Rajagattu’s father Lingaiah died on October 21 at his residence in Sri Sri Nagar Colony, Mancherial. Subsequently, Rajagattu’s five-year-old daughter Srivarshini also developed symptoms of dengue and succumbed on October 27.
The very next day, Sona who was pregnant and about to deliver, was admitted at Yashoda Hospital in Secunderabad. However, she breathed her last on Wednesday.
While the family and relatives say that all the four members died due to dengue, as per official records, only Sona died due to dengue. “It is the only confirmed case of dengue,” the DMHO said.
The death of others could not be established because ELISA test were not done on them. The government has made it mandatory to record dengue cases only after carrying out ELISA test.
The DMHO said so far in Mancherial 72 cases of dengue were recorded this year, with only one fatality (Sona’s death) caused by the disease.
Read: Under fire after 4 of a family die of suspected dengue, Telangana govt shifts blame
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