UP: Mysterious Dengue-like Fever Kills Over 40 In Firozabad, Yogi Govt Sets Up Team To Probe Deaths

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed that samples from some patients be sent to King George's Medical University in Lucknow and National Institute of Virology in Pune.

Lucknow: As the Uttar Pradesh government paved way for the reopening of schools, reports of mysterious dengue-like fever killing almost 40 people including children in the Firozabad district has sent shockwaves across the state. Following the number of deaths in Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday visited the families of those who lost their members and assured them of help.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath informed that 32 children and seven adults have died till now, and said that teams would be formed to ascertain the cause of the deaths, according to the news agency ANI. The Chief Minister stated that the first case was detected on August 18 and family members of patients started their treatment in private hospitals and clinics.

The CM also asked that samples from some patients should be sent to King George's Medical University in Lucknow and the National Institute of Virology in Pune. Officials have been directed to ensure proper sanitation in the district. "The dedicated Covid-19 ward at the district hospital of Firozabad is reserved for patients suffering from this fever," the Chief Minister told reporters.

Going by the NDTV report, the suspected dengue outbreak has killed around 53 people, including 45 children, over the past 10 days.

BJP MLA from Firozabad, Manish Asija, also claimed on Sunday that 40 children died last week from the disease.  However, the claim was refuted by UP Health Minister Jai Pratap Singh saying that he had received no such reports.

Is Covid-19 linked to these deaths?

Firozabad District Magistrate, Chandra Vijay Singh denied that this was the third wave of the pandemic. "Due to heavy rains and waterlogging, dengue and malaria are the cause behind high fever among children," he said. Health teams have tested the patients but they have all tested negative for Corona.

Which other districts have reported viral fever death?

Not only Firozabad, but other districts in western Uttar Pradesh, including Mathura, and Mainpuri, also reported cases of 'viral fever' that forced the government to spring into action.

Meanwhile, a child succumbed to fever at a private hospital in Agra on Tuesday, raising the death toll in Mathura's Koh village to 10, the village head said here. "Saurabh (14), son of Bhura, died at a private hospital in Agra," Harendra, the pradhan of the village, said.

Confirming the death, CMO Rachna Gupta said the child had gone to a relative's place in Barsana on August 20. From Barsana, he was directly admitted to the Agra-based a private hospital where he died on Tuesday, the official said. A makeshift hospital of four beds has been set up in Koh village with OPD facilities, officials said.

(With inputs from agencies)