Ramadoss visits AIIMS, says Dengue menace media hype

New Delhi, Oct 11 (UNI) Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss today visited the AIIMS to take stock of the Dengue situation and said the viral disease, which has affected 1,101 people in the capital alone, has been blown out of proportion by the media.

''Last year over 10,000 people were infected with dengue, this time, the situation has been blown out of proportion due to media hype,'' Dr Ramadoss told reporters when asked why the government has failed to contain the disease till now which has become an annual event in the country.

The total number of dengue cases reported in the country have reached over 3800 with 52 deaths.

The health minister visited the All India Institute of Medical Sciences this morning for about an hour-and-a-half and met dengue patients in wards-- D2, AB3 and the new ward.

He reviewed facilities for dengue patients in the hospital and also visited MP Rajiv Ranjan Singh, who is admitted in AIIMS, Chief Protocol Officer and Spokesperson B K Dash said.

''AIIMS is doing well in dealing with the dengue situation. It is a super specialty hospital and people are coming here from all parts of the country,'' Dr Ramadoss said at the end of his visit.

The Health Minister did not visit the general dengue ward in AIIMS. Doctors described the visit as ''just a formality''.

During the past 48 hours, no dengue death was reported at AIIMS, the doctors said. However, 39 new patients were admitted and 42 were discharged in the past 24 hours. The total number of cases in the institute now stands at 170 which includes 62 patients from the campus.

More than 12,000 patients have been screened at the AIIMS emergency OPD since October 3. Around 20 hospitals have been identified across the national capital which have been directed to provide free tests and treatment for dengue.

MCD officials said 1,101 total cases were reported in Delhi till 1000 hrs this morning, of which 709 are from the capital.

Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in the MCD Subhash Arya and Member, Standing Committee Vijender Gupta told reporters here that ''Stagnant water in coolers is not the chief cause of the spread of dengue in the capital. The main reason for its spread is stagnation of water being supplied by the Delhi Jal Board which accumulates owing to leakage in pipes which are about 50 years old and are in a dilapidated condition.'' In the meantime, the Song&Drama Division of the Ministry of Information&Broadcasting has launched a five-day Public Awareness Programme on Dengue and Chikunguniya diseases in coordination with the Health Department of the Delhi Government from today.

Jharkhand too detected a dengue case today. Vipin Choudhary, who worked as a security guard in the national capital and returned here on Monday was admitted in Dumka sadar hospital last night for treatment.

The Uttar Pradesh government, meanwhile, has so far identified 289 patients of dengue in the state, whereas the death toll has reached eight, the state legislative assembly was informed today.

Noida and Lucknow have been identified as districts with most cases of the vector-borne disease with 49 and 46 patients respectively identified so far in the two districts.

The issue of dengue was raised by the Opposition through an adjournment motion and during Question Hour. State Revenue minister Ambika Chaudhury informed the house that dengue was under control and there was no cause of worry. He claimed that the state government had finalised action plan to deal with the vector-borne disease on August 10 itself. ''Fogging operations are on and doctors ready to deal with the situation,'' he added.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy too announced an action plan to step up awareness and contain the spread of mosquite-borne diseases, including dengue.

Dr Reddy said each district would be provided Rs 10 lakh each for creating public awarenesss on keeping the surroundings clean and take up programmes to eradicate the mosquito menace.

UNI TEAM PR RS1946