Dengue claims another life in Bengal, official toll 8

A 27-year-old woman succumbed to dengue shock syndrome, a serious complication of dengue infection, her family said on Thursday. But officials said the report needs verification.

The woman was admitted to a hospital in Salt Lake in the city's north-eastern part last week of October, her husband said.

"On Wednesday night, we were informed she was shifted to the critical care unit. The doctors said she died of dengue shock syndrome, the worst case scenario in the infection," the husband told the media here.

However, the West Bengal directorate of health services said the report has to be checked.

"She died today (Thursday) morning at a private hospital. But the report's claims needs to be verified, so the official count for number of deaths is still 8," director of health services B.R. Satpathi told IANS.

He said over 5,000 people have been affected across Bengal but the situation is "not alarming."

"It will come down in a couple of weeks," Satpathi added.