Kolkata: Firefighter dies of dengue

CHANDERNAGORE/KOLKATA: A 36-year-old fireman from Bhadreswar in Hooghly died of dengue at a private hospital in Kolkata on Friday evening. Amar Nath Shaw was deployed at the Rishra fire station. His death has led to panic in the area as it came to light that five of his colleagues are also down with fever and have tested NS-1 positive. Though a positive NS-1 report does not necessarily mean that a person has dengue, all patients inflicted by the deadly virus test positive to this test.
“Shaw, a resident of 18, RBS Road in Bhadreswar’s Khanpukur, was on duty during the Pujas.He turned up for work despite running a temperature. He also worked the night shift. He finally complained of uneasiness on October 17 and was admitted to the Chandernagore subdivision hospital on October 20. He tested NS-1positive there and doctors recommended that he be shifted to a hospital in Kolkata. We could not get him admitted to a government hospital in Kolkata. Finally, he was admitted to a nursing home in Park Circus. After his condition deteriorated, he was moved to the private hospital in Alipore,” a relative said.

Shaw’s death certificate states that he died of complicated dengue fever with acute hepatic failure followed by secondary sepsis with multi-organ dysfunction syndrome. According to doctors who attended to him, Shaw was admitted at a critical stage on Wednesday and tested both NS-1 and IGm positive. All efforts to revive him failed and he died at 10.20 pm on Friday.
The death of the fireman has finally spurred the Rishra Municipality into action. From early on Saturday, workers could be seen clearing garbage from the area around the fire station. A fire department source said Shaw contracted dengue while at work. Even his colleagues may be suffering from dengue and any further mishaps may lead to an outrage regarding the working conditions of people entrusted with saving others’ lives and property, the official felt.
Shaw’s late father Lal Babu was also a fireman and the youth joined the force after his death. He is survived by his wife and two daughters. According to his widow Jyoti Devi: “We can’t afford expensive treatment but spent whatever we had at the hospitals in Kolkata. My only concern now is for our two daughters. I don’t know how we can manage.”