Dengue outbreak: AIIMS postpones exam

NEW DELHI: With more than 55 dengue patients admitted at AIIMS, the premier hospital has postponed its semester examination scheduled for later this month.

Most of the students have vacated their hostel rooms after a seventh semester student died on Saturday. The 18 affected by the mosquito-borne deadly virus include medical students, resident doctors and other hospital staff.

Another patient died at AIIMS on Tuesday evening, taking the confirmed deaths from the disease to two at the hospital and to 12 in the national capital.

"We have postponed the semester exam of medical students that was scheduled for the middle of this month after being requested so by the medical students," said Anil Sharma, general secretary of resident doctors association.

Most students had vacated their hostel rooms or were taken away by their guardians due to fear of the disease.

In view of the crisis at the AIIMS and the rise in the numbers of dengue patients being admitted, Sharma said the hospital had cancelled the leave of resident doctors and they had been asked to report for duty immediately.

"We want to be on full strength to meet any eventuality. There should be no shortage of staff," he added.

"We are trying to facilitate better conditions for the doctors and carrying out fogging of anti-mosquito drugs every third day in order to control the spread of the disease," he said. Around 2,000 mosquito repellents had been distributed so that doctors could protect themselves from mosquitoes.