Concern over dengue, malaria: BMC reserves 3,500 hospital beds ahead of monsoon

In 2017, the BMC recorded 1,134 dengue cases and 17 deaths due to the vector-borne disease caused by mosquitoes. Even as malaria cases are steadily declining, with over 6,000 recorded last year, BMC health department is gearing to intensify its dengue-control mechanism by tracing each patient to his house and initiate screening of other family members.

Civic officials added that intensive contact tracing will be conducted not just for hospitalised dengue patients but also for those undergoing treatment at the out-patient department in government dispensaries and hospitals. “Our team will visit patient’s house to screen other family members and destroy mosquito breeding. It is often observed that dengue cases don’t come in isolation,” Dr Padmaja Keskar, executive health officer, BMC, said.

Following a recent ban on rapid diagnostic test kits by the central government, this year the civic authorities will switch to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, available only at Kasturba hospital, to diagnose dengue.
Rapid tests kits, often used as primary testing for dengue, often yielded false results, forcing the government to prohibit its use. In BMC hospitals, a patient who tested positive for dengue in rapid test would further had to undergo PCR test for confirmation. From now, BMC will only use PCR test as final test for dengue, which is estimated to significantly increase work load on the lone diagnostic laboratory in Mumbai.

“We are not expanding PCR tests to other centres as of now. Kasturba hospital can alone manage the city load,” Keskar added. Training for medical and paramedical staff has also begun to identify symptoms of dengue. The BMC has also intensified vector-control activities since February, to remove articles that may store water and allow mosquito breeding.