KOLKATA: Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal, asserted that six of the 19 deaths of paediatric patients with Adenovirus-related symptoms who were taken to hospitals were Adenovirus confirmed cases. The remaining 13 mishaps were aided by comorbidities, she said.

The state's chief minister dismissed the growing concern over Adenovirus and said that, despite the virus having infected one member of her family as well, she had kept it a secret. She omitted, however, to provide the specifics of the member of her family who contracted the illness.

Unofficial statistics, however, state that 45 children have died in the past 10 days after being hospitalised with similar symptoms. According to unofficial statistics, the number was 40 as of late Sunday afternoon. Five further child deaths with associated symptoms were reported between Sunday afternoon and late Monday evening, bringing the total to 45 in the previous ten days. But, the administration hasn't made this official.

As per information, most of the deaths have been reported from B.C. Roy Children's Hospital, the major hospital in Kolkata with specialization in the paediatric treatment.

Although not all of the deaths were due to Adenovirus, all of the children were admitted with similar flu-like symptoms, such as a cold, fever, respiratory issues, and sore throat, among others, according to a state health department official. Thre is now no recognised medication or particular treatment for adenovirus is making the procedure of treating such patients more difficult. The virus can pass from person to person by skin contact, airborne transmission from coughing and sneezing, and stool from an infected person.

The state health department has earlier issued a warning for medical professionals, particularly paediatricians, to take extra precautions with children who are admitted with flu-like symptoms, particularly those aged two years or less since they are most susceptible to Adenovirus infection.

Adenovirus death in West Bengal: 13-yr dies in Kolkata Hospital