The elderly Gangulys, residents of Haridevpur in south Kolkata, managed to avoid contracting the coronavirus for over two years, despite the heightened risk due to their son’s employment at a hospital. However, their vulnerability took an unexpected turn when they fell victim to dengue, proving more perilous than the global pandemic. Krishna Ganguly, 56, became one of the at least 16 individuals in West Bengal who succumbed to the dengue virus this year, passing away on September 11 from acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Chandan Kumar Ganguly, 62, Krishna’s husband, emphasized the severity of dengue, stating, “Don’t take it (dengue) lightly. One mosquito bite can cost you life. We did not feel so scared of Covid even.” While the exact number of dengue-related fatalities in the state has not been officially disclosed by the health department, some officials, on condition of anonymity, estimated the figure to be over 10.
Recent data reveals a significant surge in dengue cases in West Bengal, with 1,854 cases reported in just one week ending on September 10. The North 24 Parganas district recorded the highest number of cases at 618, followed by Howrah (491), Hooghly (356), Murshidabad (290), Kolkata (263), and Jalpaiguri (214). Notably, Kolkata, North 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, Murshidabad, and Darjeeling are reporting higher case numbers.
Affected areas in Kolkata include Bhowanipore, Chetla, Kalighat, Alipore, New Alipore, Tollygunge, Anwar Shah Road, Jodhpur Park, Golf Green, Dhakuria, Jadavpur, Garia, Baghajatin, and neighborhoods along EM Bypass. A resident of Ward 115 in Kolkata succumbed to dengue less than a week before Krishna Ganguly’s death, with over 70 people diagnosed with the infection in the Kudghat neighborhood.
In response to the spike in dengue cases, the health department has allocated hospital beds specifically for dengue patients, mirroring measures taken during the Covid-19 pandemic. Dengue observer teams are visiting hospitals, and medical colleges have been directed to establish separate fever clinics. The health department has urged private hospitals and laboratories to charge reasonably for dengue and malaria tests.
Kolkata Mayor and Municipal Affairs Minister Firhad Hakim emphasized the need for collective action against dengue, including cleaning neglected properties. However, BJP leader Rahul Sinha criticized the state government, accusing it of downplaying the situation and instructing doctors not to cite dengue as the cause of death on certificates. CPI(M) senior leader Sujan Chakraborty urged the government to learn from Kerala’s effective response to the Nipah virus and criticized the inconsistency between the Chief Minister’s statements and those of health officials.