Summary:
An IgM test, however, can detect the dengue virus only on the fifth day of fever. “Dengue hasn’t been spreading as fast as it did last year but deaths have occurred very quickly. KOLKATA: A more potent strain of the dengue virus (serotype II) coupled with a flawed civic advisory asking patients to wait for three days after onset of fever before taking the NS1 test could be responsible for the quicker deaths reported this year, say experts. In fact, this has been responsible for outbreaks and deaths in Kolkata in recent years,” Nandy adds.Internal medicine consultant at Fortis Hospital Joydeep Ghosh agrees. But if the virus strain changes, then the antibodies will fail to counter it and the death rate will rise,” he explains.Even though casualties have so far been lower than last year, the virus remains potent, according to consultant Arindam Biswas..