New Delhi, October 6
Seven more dengue deaths have been reported from various parts of the country in the past 24 hours, taking the toll to 45. Reports of 282 fresh dengue cases across the country have added to the worry of public health experts.
From a total of 2,954 cases reported till yesterday by the Director, National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), the number has increased to 3236.
While Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss is away to Kerala to monitor the situation arising out of chikungunya and dengue, the NVBDCP has reported 743 cases of dengue in Delhi and the National Capital Region. In his absence, Cabinet Secretary B.K. Chaturvedi called a meeting of health experts here this afternoon.
AIIMS reported another death in the past 24 hours, taking the toll to seven. Although no death was reported today, a 55-year-old man from Bulandshahar died yesterday.
AIIMS spokesperson and Medical Superintendent of RP Centre Dr Shakti Gupta said 950 persons attended the fever-screening OPD in the past 24 hours compared to a 1,000 persons who attended the centre the previous day. Thirty persons had been admitted to the institute for treatment of suspected dengue, he added.
A total of 114 patients are being treated in various
wards at the institute for suspected dengue. This includes Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s grandsons and son-in-law.
Asked about the condition of the PM’s kin, Dr Gupta said since they showed symptoms of dengue, they were being treated along the same line. He, however, said the report of the confirmatory test was expected from the Microbiology Department on Saturday.
Dr Gupta said the institute had started a telephone helpline to enable the public address dengue-related questions. Those having access to the Internet can mail questions about dengue to experts at
dengueprevention@gmail.com, he added.
The helpline (011-26589217), which would be manned by health educators from the Centre for Community Medicine, could be accessed between 10 am to 5 pm from Monday to Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court has pulled up the Centre and the state government for failing to execute its 1996 orders on containing dengue. The court gave the Delhi government a week to file an affidavit and enlisted 10 hospitals in the city that are fully-equipped to deal with dengue.
