85 more dengue cases in Delhi; 1186 afflicted by viral disease

New Delhi, Oct 12 (UNI) As Delhi struggles to cope with the mosquito menace, 85 more dengue cases were reported in the national capital during the past 24 hours taking the total number of viral disease patients to 1,186.

MCD officials said of the total number of cases till 1000 hrs this morning 766, including 57 reported during the past 24 hours, are from the capital.

Central Zone, Najafgarh and Shahdara (North) continued to be the the worst affected areas which have reported 141, 90 and 88 cases respectively.

In AIIMS, which is facing a dengue deluge, 29 more patients were admitted in the past 24 hours. The institute now has 160 people undergoing treatment for the viral disease.

During the past 72 hours, no dengue death was reported at AIIMS, doctors said. So far 22 people have succumbe a to the disease.

Thirty-nine patients were discharged in the past 24 hours. More than 13,000 patients have been screened at the AIIMS emergency OPD since October 3, doctors said.

''We are still screening an average of 800 to 1000 patients every day.... The numbers are increasing,'' AIIMS RDA General Secretary Dr Anil Sharma said.

However, he said the institute's contingency plan had streamlined the management of dengue patients.

''No new cases from within the campus have been reported in the past 24 hours,'' he added.

The hospital is conducting about 1,600 platelet counting tests daily with the help of four separator machines, functioning round the clock.

Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss yesterday visited AIIMS 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.

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