Father, son die of suspected dengue in Kolkata

Kolkata Sep 9 (IANS) Following the death of a father and son within 12 hours here due to suspected dengue civic authorities ruled out the vector-borne disease as the cause of the son s death.

The authorities also claimed the father may have been infected with the disease outside the state. Ghosh s relatives however have alleged the duo died from dengue based on test reports.

Fifty-three-year-old Siddharth Ghosh of Kasba near south Kolkata passed away at a private hospital on September 7 at 3 a.m. while his 13-year old son Deep died on the same day around 1.30 p.m. at the Institute of Child Health.

Deep s death certificate from the Institute of Child Health says "cardiorespiratory failure in a case of severe dengue with encephalitis in a known case of hypothyroidism".

Kolkata Municipal Corporation s member mayor in council (health) Atin Ghosh said the father was depressed because of his son s epilepsy and the deaths could have been linked to those conditions.

"There is a travel history behind the deaths. Siddharth had gone to Chennai for treatment and contracted fever from there " Ghosh on Saturday said adding everything is being done to prevent dengue cases.

--IANS
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