7 officials with Jogeshwari police station hospitalized after testing positive for dengue
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Reports of a possible dengue outbreak in the city have been making rounds ever since 4 KEM doctors were admitted to the same hospital due to suspected dengue earlier this month.
Now, at least seven police personnel, including a senior inspector, three sub-inspectors and three constables, attached to Jogeshwari police station have been hospitalized after testing positive for the viral disease.
The names of the officials that have been struck by dengue are;
1. Sr PI Rajendra Nikam
2. Sub-inspector Dr Pooja Shah
3. Sub-inspector Mangesh Gonthla
4. Sub-inspector Abhijeet Thorat
5. Constable Mahesh Chaudhary
6. Constable Yogesh Garud and
7. Constable Mahendra Jadhav
According to sources, the officials may have contracted dengue due to the presence of a nullah and construction in the area, which have been a mosquito breeding site.
Meanwhile, authorities have asked officers to report any possible breeding sites to the BMC and use repellants in the interim.
When asked about the incident, an official from the BMC refused to comment till the civic body had inspected the area surrounding the police station.
The number of dengue cases have been on the rise in the city since the onset of monsoon. The rise can be attributed to the irregular bouts of rain coupled with stagnant water and humid weather, which are ideal conditions for the breeding of dengue causing ‘Aedes Aegypti’ mosquitos.
According to the civic body’s latest health report, dated August 21, there were 994 suspected cases of dengue across BMC-run hospitals in the month.
