Updated at 9.55 pm
NEW DELHI: More people reported sick with the dengue virus on Monday with 56 fresh cases being admitted to city hospitals, taking the total number to 941, and the Delhi government called an urgent meeting to review the situation. Out of these the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) reported 41 cases, taking the total to 173. The total number of deaths now stands at 22.
Doctors at AIIMS say that the situation is nearly out of control. The patient influx at the hospital is increasing by the day and the manpower is falling short.
In a meeting called of the heads of department on Monday, AIIMS Director P Venugopal decided that 2 resident doctors and 1 faculty member from all the 50 departments should report to the medical superintendent and work with dengue patients. Also the private floor at AIIMS, which was meant for paid patients and has been renovated will be used as a dengue observation centre.
Two emergency wards wherein casualty patients of all departments were treated will be used exclusively for patients admitted with dengue. However the hospital PRO PK Das bemoans that AIIMS is becoming the hub of the disease. “The common man believes that this is the only place where dengue can be treated. Even educated people with slight fever and a normal platelet count believe that they are suffering from dengue and land up at AIIMS.”
The Delhi government on Monday called an urgent meeting along with senior members of the health ministry, doctors and civic officials to discuss the alarming health situation.
“The government has drawn up certain contingency plans to tackle the disease and the review meeting would take stock of the efforts made,” said DS Negi, Delhi’s health secretary. He also appealed to the people to maintain cleanliness.
In another twist on Monday, Director general of the Indian Council of Medical Research, NK Ganguly feared that certain deaths in the capital might have also happened due to chikungunya. Even though the government had earlier said that the disease was non-fatal, scientists have collected samples to verify this.
