At the beginning of March 2023, a virus outbreak news was roaming all over West Bengal named Adenovirus. Flu-like symptoms, fever, cold & cough, breathing problems, and fatigue in children were reported all over Kolkata and West Bengal. Child hospitals were nowhere ready to face such a spike in cases with similar symptoms. The poor medical infrastructure of the Paediatric sector becomes helpless with less number of proper doctors, and nurses, and a lack of emergency beds and medical instruments. Proper medical tests were also late, and as a result, the real cause of casualties was not found. Most unfortunately, there was no official announcement made from the Govt end till then. People with their children from far away places from Kolkata came to Dr. B C Roy Post Graduate Institute of Paediatric Sciences amid a sudden spike of Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) cases in Kolkata. Parents were literally helpless as they were not being disclosed to the proper emergency situation. The media was trying to highlight the issue at the national level but due to a lack of inside information on the hospitals and health administration interference in the media broadcasts, the actual scenario got suppressed by the Govt impact. Probably the main reason behind hiding the real fact was the lack of medical infrastructure in spite of spending a hefty amount in the annual budget for the health sector. Proper death certificates with true reason were not being provided to the parents. Most of the cause of death was being mentioned as Acute Respiratory Infection. Test samples were not being sent for proper Adenovirus test. Parents were being instructed not to open their feedback to the media as their child’s health was totally dependent on the hospital authorities. After 5-7 days of media coverage from the Hospital premises, the Govt authority stopped the media from accessing the area so that the news could be totally stopped from being telecasted. To hide the health sector scam, the Govt administration suppressed such a child health emergency news.
As per the local media reports, more than 15 children died in West Bengal within a span of 7 days. At least 12 children, infected with Adenovirus, died in state-run hospitals in West Bengal in one month, while around 5,213 cases of acute respiratory infections (ARI) have been reported. The actual report is far more than reported.
Child death due to Adenovirus outbreak
KOLKATA WEST BENGAL INDIA - 2023 03 01 A man cries after the death of his child who succumbed to Acute Respiratory Infection ARI at Dr B C Roy Post Graduate Institute of Pediatric Sciences in Kolkata
A mother with her suffering son waiting for treatment outside hospital ward
KOLKATA WEST BENGAL INDIA - 2023 03 01 A woman carries her child suffering from Acute Respiratory Infection ARI while waiting for treatment at Dr B C Roy Post Graduate Institute of Pediatric Sciences in Kolkata
People with their children waiting for treatment outside the hospital ward
KOLKATA WEST BENGAL INDIA - 2023 03 01 People and their children suffering from Acute Respiratory Infection ARI are seen waiting for treatment at Dr B C Roy Post Graduate Institute of Pediatric Sciences in Kolkata
An emergency situation of a baby, put on oxygen support
KOLKATA WEST BENGAL INDIA - 2023 03 01 A baby suffering from Acute Respiratory Infection ARI is put on oxygen support inside the ambulance at Dr B C Roy Post Graduate Institute of Pediatric Sciences in Kolkata
When oxygen mask replaced feeding bottle
KOLKATA WEST BENGAL INDIA - 2023 03 02 A child suffering from Acute Respiratory Infection ARI is being given oxygen support inside an ambulance in front of the emergency ward at Dr B C Roy Post Graduate Institute of Pediatric Sciences amid a sudden spike in Adenovirus cases increases in Kolkata
A parent rush to the emergency ward with their suffering child
KOLKATA WEST BENGAL INDIA - 2023 03 03 Parents rush to Dr B C Roy Post Graduate Institute of Pediatric Science Emergency Ward as their child is given oxygen support due to Acute Respiratory Infection ARI
When oxygen mask replaced feeding bottle
KOLKATA WEST BENGAL INDIA - 2023 03 03 A child suffering from Acute Respiratory Infection ARI is being given oxygen support inside an ambulance in front of the emergency ward at Dr B C Roy Post Graduate Institute of Pediatric Sciences amid a sudden spike in Adenovirus cases increases in Kolkata
Parents waiting outside the hospital I.C.C.U
KOLKATA WEST BENGAL INDIA - 2023 03 01 People waiting at temporary makeshifts outside the hospital premises as their children suffering from Acute Respiratory Infection ARI being admitted at Dr B C Roy Post Graduate Institute of Pediatric Sciences in Kolkata
A mother cries after loosing her child
KOLKATA WEST BENGAL INDIA - 2023 03 02 A woman cries due to the serious health condition of her child having Acute Respiratory Infections ARI at Dr B C Roy Post Graduate Institute of Pediatric Sciences amid a sudden spike of Adenovirus cases increases in Kolkata
Parent cry with their child deadbody
KOLKATA WEST BENGAL INDIA - 2023 03 01 A couple cries after the death of their child who succumbed to Acute Respiratory Infection ARI at Dr B C Roy Post Graduate Institute of Pediatric Sciences in Kolkata
A death certificate with Adenovirus infection note
KOLKATA WEST BENGAL INDIA - 2023 03 03 A father showing the death certificate of her child who succumbed to Adenoviral Pneumonia at Dr B C Roy Post Graduate Institute of Pediatric Sciences in Kolkata
A mother cries after loosing her child
KOLKATA WEST BENGAL INDIA - 2023 03 03 A mother reacts after the death of her child who succumbed to Acute Respiratory Infection ARI at Dr B C Roy Post Graduate Institute of Pediatric Sciences in Kolkata
