Dengue Claims Woman Doctor’s Life in Surat: 5-Day Fever, Hostel Filth and Mosquitoes

A first-year resident doctor studying anesthesia at Surat’s municipal-run SMIMER Medical College hostel has died from dengue. Her family admitted her to a private hospital, where she developed brain swelling and infections in the heart and liver. Municipal authorities conducted inspections at SMIMER Hospital following her death. The health department found severe filth in the hostel where Dr. Dhara Chavda lived, including stagnant water causing a mosquito infestation and empty liquor bottles scattered around.

Dengue Claims 8 Lives in Two Months

Dengue has claimed the lives of eight people in the past two months, with reports showing that 3 out of 10 patients in OPD have dengue. Civil Hospital sees daily queues of patients, with many testing positive for the virus.

24-Year-Old Doctor from Ahmedabad Dies from Dengue

Dhara Narottambhai Chavda, a 24-year-old first-year anesthesia student at SMIMER, had been suffering from fever for three to four days. After vomiting and worsening symptoms, she was admitted to SMIMER Hospital, where she tested positive for dengue. Her family transferred her to a private hospital for further treatment, where she was placed on a ventilator. Despite efforts, her condition deteriorated, and she passed away on Thursday. Another dengue victim, Khodidas Savaliya, a 26-year-old man from Yogi Chowk, also died after being treated at a private hospital for three days.

Woman Doctor Had Fever for 5 Days

The deceased woman doctor had been suffering from fever for about five days and was self-medicating. Her condition worsened, and within just six hours of treatment, her health deteriorated to the point that she passed away. Hospital management is surprised by how rapidly her condition declined.

Health Deteriorated Rapidly in Just Six Hours

According to SMIMER Medical College Dean Dr. Deepak Howale, Dr. Dhara tested positive for dengue, but she also had liver failure and heart issues. She had self-medicated for her fever, which worsened her condition. If she had informed her superiors earlier, she might have received better treatment and recovered. Unfortunately, within just six hours, her health deteriorated, and she was unable to recover due to brain swelling.

Dengue Cases Rising Amidst Viral Fever Outbreak

SMIMER Hospital Superintendent Dr. Jitendra Darshan stated that senior doctors admitted Dhara to the hospital. After her family intervened, she was taken to Venus Hospital, where her condition worsened, and she passed away. Dengue cases are increasing rapidly amid the viral fever outbreak, but no negligence occurred on the hospital’s part.

Doctors Discuss Dr. Dhara’s Death in SMIMER Hospital

Dr. Dhara’s death has become a topic of discussion among doctors at SMIMER Hospital. Doctors believe she was not given adequate leave or treatment after her condition worsened, and even when she collapsed unconscious in the operating theater, her seriousness wasn’t recognized. Had she been granted timely leave, she might have received better care. Every day, 400 to 500 patients visit SMIMER’s medicine department, and 30% are suspected to have dengue. A similar situation exists at New Civil Hospital, with 600 to 700 daily patients, 30% of whom show dengue symptoms. Both hospitals see over 300 suspected dengue patients daily.

Dengue Causes Severe Symptoms Like Abdominal Pain and Liver Swelling

Patients report mild fever initially, followed by severe fever and weakness. Symptoms include abdominal pain, water retention, and liver swelling. Patients are admitted immediately, and 40% of those admitted with symptoms test positive for dengue, making it a growing crisis.

8 Deaths in Two Months Due to Dengue

In the past two months, dengue has claimed eight lives. Municipal records show 87 cases in four months, while Civil Hospital has admitted 239 dengue patients. In August alone, 155 patients were admitted, with 21 patients hospitalized within the first 10 days of September. SMIMER Dean Dr. Deepak Howale confirmed that Dr. Dhara had a fever for six days and was self-medicating. After testing positive for dengue and being admitted to a private hospital, she died on Thursday due to brain swelling and infections in the heart and liver.

Cases do not appear in the records of the municipality

month	Patient admitted to civil	Case in Municipal Book
Jun	8	4
July	55	15
August	155	39
September	21	39

How many cases of dengue have been reported in the last 9 months

September	130
August	155
July	55
June	8
May	35
April	50
March	31
February	23
January	52

Three times more cases recorded in private hospitals

Dengue claimed the lives of two more people in Surat city. Long lines of patients were seen at the New Civil Hospital in the city. People coming for treatment were complaining of seasonal fever, malaria, and dengue. As of September 12, around 94 cases of malaria and dengue have been reported in SMIMER Hospital and the New Civil Hospital. In private hospitals, three times more cases have been recorded compared to government facilities.

Report of doctor’s death sent to the state government

With the rise in dengue and malaria cases in Surat city, the municipal health department has been actively responding. A doctor died due to dengue, and the health department has sent a report of the doctor’s death to the state government. On the other hand, patients are flocking to Surat’s government hospitals, New Civil Hospital, and the SMIMER Hospital. Large lines of patients have been seen at these hospitals since early morning.

1,500 staff members deployed

As dengue and malaria cases rise, Surat Municipal Corporation’s Additional Insecticide Officer, J.P. Vaghdia, stated that 55 cases of malaria and 39 cases of dengue have been reported in September. Around 1,500 employees of the municipal corporation are working, with 900 deployed in the field and 686 engaged in surveillance. We are conducting three-layer monitoring. Even though it has been raining continuously for three months, we are controlling the cases of malaria and dengue. Daily, 125,000 homes are being surveyed.

More cases in migrant areas

Vaghdia also mentioned that areas like Limbayat, Udhna, and Dindoli, where a large number of migrants live, are seeing higher cases. When we go for action, the residents are either at work or not home, making it difficult to spread awareness. We are making continuous efforts, as these diseases can be better controlled with public awareness. We are also raising awareness about malaria and dengue at Ganesh festival pandals.

Breeding of mosquitoes found in 67,000 homes

Notably, the data provided by Surat Municipal Corporation pertains to September. In just 12 days, 94 cases of dengue and malaria have been recorded. The municipal health department states that private hospitals report three times more cases than government hospitals, indicating the current dengue and malaria situation in Surat. The municipal corporation is surveying 125,000 homes daily, and up to now, 2.6 million homes have been surveyed. Mosquito breeding was found in 67,000 homes, and data from private hospitals is being collected via an app.

Three girls died from dengue in Ahmedabad

Heavy rains in Ahmedabad led to issues with dirt and waterlogging, resulting in a spike in diseases. Dengue cases are increasing in Ahmedabad, with a 4-year-old girl from Behrampura dying due to dengue. The girl had been suffering from high fever for three days and was being treated at a private hospital. She was later admitted to LG Hospital in Maninagar, where she died during treatment. In addition, a 12-year-old girl from Vastral and an 11-year-old girl from Vastran died due to dengue.

688 dengue cases in Ahmedabad by August 31

According to the AMC health department, as of August 31, 688 dengue cases, 212 regular malaria cases, 34 cases of toxic malaria, and 58 cases of chikungunya were recorded. Waterborne diseases included 788 cases of typhoid, 751 of diarrhea, 538 of jaundice, and 23 of cholera. About 9,073 serum samples for dengue were collected. In the city, 7,185 construction sites were inspected, 25,180 notices were issued, and a fine of ₹1.35 crores was collected.

Dengue cases increased in Thaltej, Navrangpura, Gota, and Sarkhej

Dr. Bhavin Solanki, head of the AMC health department, stated that dengue and chikungunya cases are increasing in the western areas of the city, especially in Sarkhej, Gota, Thaltej, Navrangpura, and Vastral. Dengue cases are rising due to stagnant rainwater on large bungalows, chalets, and construction sites, which create a breeding ground for mosquitoes. The main reasons for waterborne disease outbreaks have been contaminated water and outside food consumption.

Threefold increase in dengue cases compared to the previous month

In Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, 65 dengue cases were recorded in July, while over 200 cases were recorded in August. Malaria cases rose from 39 in July to over 112 in August. Two cases of chikungunya were recorded in July, compared to 34 in August. There were 450 cases of viral fever in July, which increased to over 780 cases in August.

Statistics released by AMC

July	case
Dengue	65
Malaria	39
Chikungunya	2
Viral fever	450

August	case
Dengue	200
Malaria	112
Chikungunya	34
Viral fever	780