Dengue cases rise to 1,908; Death toll at 41 in Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 20 (UNI) Despite a dip in the temperature, dengue showed no signs of abatement as 88 more cases were reported, taking the total number of viral disease patients in the capital to 1,908.

With the death of one more viral disease patient at AIIMS, the toll in the capital so far is risen to 41.

Gullu, 23, from Sangam Vihar, succumed to the disease yesterday at the institute.

MCD officials said of the total number of reported cases till 1000 hrs this morning 1,202 are from Delhi alone.

Central Zone, Shahdara(N) and Najafgarh continued to remain the worst affected areas in Delhi with 222, 156 and 142 cases respectively.

Dengue patients from across the country continued to flock the AIIMS.

AIIMS Medical Superintendent Dr D K Sharma 36 fresh admissions had been made in the institute in the past 24 hours till 1000 hrs while 30 patients were discharged.

In all, 185 patients are admitted in the institute, he added.

Dr Sharma said 170 suspected dengue patients are under observation in AIIMS.

''The disease is not abating. We are getting a constant stream of people in AIIMS. The numbers are on the rise,'' Dr Sharma said.

However, he expressed the hope that with the changing weather mosquito breeding and dengue will come down.

More than 22,000 patients have been screened at the AIIMS emergency OPD since October 3, doctors said.

The hospital is conducting more than 2000 platelet-counting tests daily with the help of four separator machines, functioning round-the-clock.

UNI NR SK HT1907