Dengue shows signs of abatement in Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 22 (UNI) With the temperature in the capital on the decrease over the past few days and high post Diwali air pollution, dengue has started showing signs of abatement in Delhi.

During the past 24 hours, ending at 1000 hrs this morning, 56 fresh cases were reported in the capital compared to 92 reported in the same time period yesterday. On Friday morning, 88 cases were reported in Delhi.

The total number of dengue patients in Delhi now stands at 2,051 of which 1,298 are from the capital alone, MCD officials said.

Doctors said the outbreak had started to ''decline'' and it would take about seven to ten days for the viral disease to fully subside.

In Delhi, dengue has so far claimed 41 lives.

In All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), which faced the dengue deluge, 22 more dengue patients were admitted in the past 24 hours till 1000 hrs this morning and 39 were discharged.

The special dengue ward has 179 patients under treatment, AIIMS Medical Superintendent Dr D K Sharma said.

He said at present 60 suspected dengue patients are under observation in the institute today. Yesterday morning the suspected cases were double the number-- 120 -- in the institute.

''The numbers are on the decline. The number of fresh cases is 22 today compared to yesterday's 59 patients and 36 on Friday,'' he pointed out.

''Gradually the viral disease will decline. One or two odd cases will still happen but it will not be an outbreak then. The weather is not conducive for the aedes mosquitoes to breed,'' he added.

No deaths were reported from the hospital in the past 24 hours, Dr Sharma said.

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

In Delhi, Central Zone, Shahdara(N) and Najafgarh are the worst hit by dengue.

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