Lucknow, Nov 2 (IANS) Despite a drop in mercury and considerable smoke and pollution in the air, both considered deterrents to the mosquitoes causing dengue, the vector-borne disease continues to plague many parts of the state, including the state capital.
In the last 24 hours, more than 200 fresh cases of dengue have been reported in Lucknow alone.
A state-level cricketer Subodh Srivastava, who had represented Uttar Pradesh in the Under-17 and Under-19 cricket teams at several national contests, passed away after contracting dengue.
Family and friends of Subodh alleged that while he was battling dengue, officials in a private hospital where he was admitted, said all was well.
His platelet count, however, nosedived on Tuesday night and he passed away. He was suffering from high-grade fever for the last one week and had tested positive for dengue.
Health officials stated that in the last one day alone, over two dozen cases of dengue were reported from Lohia Hospital, 33 from the Civil Hospital, 43 from Balrampur Hospital and a dozen each from King George's Medical University (KGMC) and Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI).
All these cases were reported from government hospitals while many more persons were reportedly admitted in private hospitals and nursing homes for treatment of dengue.
The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court had recently rapped the state government for its failure to control the dengue menace and had even gone on to observe that if such callousness continues, it would be forced to recommend President's Rule in the state.
Health officials admitting the continuance of dengue in the city said they hoped that within the next few days, as the cold increases, the mosquitoes would perish.
So far, more than 200 people have reportedly died due to dengue, with more than 2,000 dengue cases being reported in all.
