New Delhi, October 14: Dengue has given health authorities in the Capital a fresh cause of worry. Already reeling under the threat of swine flu, Delhi hospitals have reported nearly 500 dengue cases so far this year.
Sensing danger, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi ( MCD) conducted a meeting with medical superintendents of all district hospitals to discuss ways to prevent the spread of the disease.
” Intermittent rainfall and fluctuating temperature this year has helped to spread dengue.
We are concerned and planning to educate people about the disease,” Dr V. K. Monga, chairman, MCD health committee, said.
About 50 confirmed cases were reported by the MCD from the city’s various government hospitals. Some doctors at AIIMS were said to be suffering from the disease. ” Everyone is rightly concerned about swine flu. But we need to give some attention to dengue as well.
There has already been an alarming rise in the number of dengue cases and this is the peak season. So, we should be prepared for more such cases,” a doctor at AIIMS said.
Private hospitals have also admitted a large number of dengue patients. Rockland Hospital has received more than 50 cases in one week while Apollo Hospital is treating about 30 patients. Fifteen and 12 cases have been reported this month at Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj, and Batra Hospital respectively.
The disease has already claimed the life of Niranjan Das, a resident of Vijay Nagar. The 20- year- old was admitted to St Stephens’ Hospital with dengue- like symptoms.
-Agencies