New Delhi: In light of the recent deaths of over 40 children due to a suspected dengue outbreak, Firozabad chief medical officer (CMO) Dr. Neeta Kulshrestha has been transferred away from the district. Her post has been filled by Dr. Dinesh Premi, additional CMO of Hapur, while she was relocated to Aligarh to be the senior consultant of the Aligarh’s Malkhan Singh District Hospital, India Today reported.
The reason for Kulshrestha’s transfer has not, however, been explicitly stated.
The exact number of casualties due to the suspected dengue outbreak range from 40-60, based on various reports, and the number of these casualties that are children vary between 40-45.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath had visited some dengue patients on Monday and noted that an inquiry to ascertain the cause of the recent casualties would be undertaken by a team from King George’s Medical University in Lucknow. He went on to note that the first case of dengue was detected on August 18.
BJP’s Firozabad MLA Manish Asija on Tuesday put the total death toll at 44 and averred that 25 “camps” have been set up in affected areas in the district. Asija also ascribed blame for the casualties to the state health department and the local civic body, as is mentioned in the India Today report.
A meeting between the local administration and 15 doctors who arrived from Lucknow also took place, following which tests were conducted around the district in areas which have been affected.
In order to get ahead of the situation, paediatric doctors have been brought in from the neighbouring Kanpur and Agra to Firozabad’s medical colleges, as reported by Amar Ujala.
In view of the prevailing situation, district magistrate Chandra Vijay Chauhan had, on Monday, ordered all government and non-government schools to remain closed for grades 1-8, as well as coaching institutions, until September 8. Chauhan warned of strict action against anyone who disobeyed the order.
With inputs from PTI.