Free CATS ambulances' available for dengue patients: Shastri

New Delhi, Oct 12 (UNI) Delhi Health Minister Yoganand Shastri today announced that people suffering from dengue haemorrhagic fever or shock syndrome can avail services of CATS ambulances, free of cost to reach hospitals.

''People can take the services of CATS ambulances so that treatment can be started at the earliest,'' Dr Shastri said after chairing a review meeting on water and vector borne diseases.

The total reported dengue cases in the city has reached 1,186 out of which 766 are from Delhi, he said.

The Health Minister said MCD will not issue any dengue challans till Sunday.

''The citizens should act responsibly and take initiatives to control mosquito breeding in their areas and surroundings,'' he added.

He instructed the MCD and NDMC to intensify fogging operations and also take effective measures to control the breeding of Aedes mosquitoes, which causes dengue.

Dr Shastri instructed MCD and NDMC to specially check construction sites and empty plots for mosquito breeding.

''PWD has already being issued directions to check their construction sites and take essential measures to control breeding,'' he added.

NDMC has issued challans for mosquito breeding to CPWD Enquiry Kali Bari and Pandara Road, Social Welfare Department, Canning Lane, Meteorological Department, Lodhi Road, School of Foreign Languages, Lodhi Estate, National Museum, Janpath and National Achieves, Janpath.

Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in Delhi Legislative Assembly Jagdish Mukhi held the Delhi Government responsible for the rapid spread of dengue in the capital.

''The MCD and the Delhi Government are solely responsible for not purchasing preventive medicines well in time, if they had Delhiities would have been spared,'' he said.

''Instead of focussing on preventive measures, the MCD and the Delhi Government are giving concocted stories regarding the number of patients and dengue deaths,'' he added.

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