Delhi Dengue menace: 2 more lives claimed, over 600 fresh cases reported

Two more patients have died of dengue and over 600 fresh cases have been reported in the capital in the last one week taking the total to 1,872 this year even as Delhi Government ordered all its hospitals to open 'Fever Clinics' to offer treatment to people affected by the vector-borne disease.

With dengue cases assuming alarming proportions, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal the ordered health department to do "everything posible" to offer treatment to the affected people even as Centre directed Delhi Government to make available adequate quantity of platelets for the patients.

Union Health Minister J P Nadda reviewed the situation and asked Delhi government to increase bed strength in its hospitals and check overcharging of patients by private hospitals. He said the number of beds in central government run hospitals in Delhi is being increased. The Chief Minister, at a meeting with almost all the MLAs and top officials, directed the legislators to visit the hospitals in their constituencies at least once daily and report back to government if there was any inadequacy in treatment of the patients.

After a meeting with district medical officers (CDMOs), regional health directors and top officials of his department, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain appealed people not to panic and said government has made adequate arrangements to deal with the situation.

Jain said suspected dengue patients should get themselves tested only in government hospitals as far as possible because it is free of cost and reports come within two hours. He also appealed to people to leave the issue of admission in hospitals to the doctors and not insist on admission.

"I have ordered all government hospitals that they should not refuse to admit dengue patients even if they have to treat two patients on a single bed. Admission of patients to hospital should be left to doctors," Jain said.

As concerns mounted over rising dengue cases, the municipal corporation came out with fresh data saying 613 cases have been reported in the last one week and a total of 1,041 patients tested positive for the vector borne disease between September 1-12. Though MCD said five people have died of dengue this year, the figures given by various hospitals put the toll at eight.

"Two new death victims are -- 6-month-old Anishka, who was admitted to Hindu Rao Hospital on September 12 and Surjeet Singh, 54-year-old man admitted to Fortis Hospital in Vasant Kunj. Avinash, 7, from Lado Serai, was on suspected dengue victim list, but his case has now been confirmed," a senior official of SDMC told PTI.

Also read- Dengue menace: Centre asks Delhi govt to increase hospital beds

Delhi Government hospitals have cancelled leave of all doctors, nurses and para-medics in view of the rising number of cases. On Sunday, the Delhi government had decided to add 1,000 additional beds to accommodate dengue patients. The decision came days after death of a seven year-old boy of dengue after being allegedly refused treatment by five private hospitals. Soon after the boy died, his parents had committed jumped to death from a four-storey building which triggered widespread outrage.

The municipal corporation said the total number of dengue cases from January 1 to September 12 has risen to 1,872, which is highest in the last five years. It said 613 cases reported between September 5-12 marks an increase of over 140 per cent compared to last week. The number of cases in between January 1-September 12 in 2014 was 55 while in 2013, it was 466. The corresponding number in 2012 was 19 while it was 131 in 2011.

The alarming rise in the number of cases of the vector- borne disease in the capital has also put the civic bodies on their toes, all of which are now further intensifying their awareness-cum-prevention drive. Three casualties including a 10-year-girl, who died in the first week of August, have been designated by the municipal as suspected dengue death cases. The other two victims on that list, died at AIIMS.

With demand for platelets shooting up across the city, the Delhi Health Department has ordered all government blood banks to stock enough platelets and also directed private blood banks to ensure their availability at nominal rates.

Out of the total cases, north Delhi recorded the highest at 776, south Delhi at 499 while east Delhi posted the lowest with 152 cases. Of all civic zones in the city, Narela Zone of North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) has recored the highest number with 260 cases. 287 cases were reported from areas outside the jurisdiction of the municipal corporations in the city while 56 people from Uttar Pradesh and 26 from Haryana were diagnosed for dengue in Delhi. 76 people from states other than UP and Haryana have also been tested positive for dengue in the capital.

Last year, the city had reported three deaths and recorded nearly 1,000 dengue cases. Meanwhile both BJP and Congress accused Delhi Government of total failure in controlling the situation.

City BJP chief Satish Upadhyay said the Delhi Health Minister should take appropriate action or should resign if he fails to ensure treatment to the patients. DPCC chief Ajay Maken said the AAP Government and the BJP-ruled municipal coporations were equally responsible for the spread of dengue in the city.