Smriti Irani hit by dengue
Is in ICU of Lilavati Hospital but her condition is stable
Santosh Andhale and Kunal M Shah
If you're wondering why 'Tulsi' Smriti Irani has been missing from your TV screens for the last few days, here's the reason: she has been hit by dengue and has been admitted to the ICU of Lilavati Hospital, Bandra (W).
Doctors at the hospital confirmed she had tested positive for dengue and had been admitted to the ICU on the hospital's sixth floor two days ago. Her condition though is stable and she is being treated by Dr Prakash Jindani, hospital sources said. She would be shifted out of ICU soon, they added.
According to sources, Smriti complained of fever and pain in the joints when she was on a Gujarat tour for her play Maniben.com last week. She performed two shows even though she was running a temperature but could not perform the third in Kalol, Gujarat's industrial belt, as her fever shot up and returned to Mumbai during the weekend for tests.
Smriti's husband Zubin Irani, who was at the hospital, told this paper: "Smriti was unwell but is on her road to recovery now. She will be fine soon."
Komolika Guha Thakurta, Smriti's co-actor in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, said she had sent her an SMS and got a reply from her husband saying she was getting better.
Hiten Tejwani, who plays Smriti's son in the serial, said he was "completely unaware" that she had dengue. "But now that I know, I will surely visit her," he said.
Asked if Kyunki's schedule would be affected by Smriti's illness, producer Ekta Kapoor said: "Yes, we have had to make some changes. Tulsi (the character Smriti plays) is the heart of the show, so we have tried to change tracks. For instance, we have brought in the track of Tulsi's daughter-in-law Nandini. I just hope and pray Smriti gets well soon."
What is dengue?
Dengue is a flu-like viral disease spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes. Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a severe, often fatal, complication of dengue.
Dengue is spread by the bite of an Aedes mosquito. The mosquito transmits the disease by biting an infected person and then biting someone else. Mosquitoes that transmit dengue breed in discarded tyres, flower pots, old oil drums and water storage containers close to human dwellings.
Dengue is common in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Australia, and the Americas. It is widespread in the Caribbean basin.
Its prevention centres on avoiding mosquito bites in areas where dengue occurs or might occur and eliminating breeding sites.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
