2 more die of dengue, over 600 fresh cases reported in Delhi

New Delhi, Sept 14: Two more patients have died of dengue and over 600 fresh cases have been reported in the capital in the last one week taking the total to 1,872 this year even as Delhi Government ordered all its hospitals to open 'Fever Clinics' to offer treatment to people affected by the vector-borne disease.

With dengue cases assuming alarming proportions, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal the ordered health department to do "everything posible" to offer treatment to the affected people even as Centre directed Delhi Government to make available adequate quantity of platelets for the patients.

Union Health Minister J P Nadda reviewed the situation and asked Delhi government to increase bed strength in its hospitals and check overcharging of patients by private hospitals.

He said the number of beds in central government run hospitals in Delhi is being increased. The Chief Minister, at a meeting with almost all the MLAs and top officials, directed the legislators to visit the hospitals in their constituencies at least once daily and report back to government if there was any inadequacy in treatment of the patients.

After a meeting with district medical officers (CDMOs), regional health directors and top officials of his department, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain appealed people not to panic and said government has made adequate arrangements to deal with the situation.

Jain said suspected dengue patients should get themselves tested only in government hospitals as far as possible because it is free of cost and reports come within two hours.

He also appealed to people to leave the issue of admission in hospitals to the doctors and not insist on admission.

"I have ordered all government hospitals that they should not refuse to admit dengue patients even if they have to treat two patients on a single bed. Admission of patients to hospital should be left to doctors," Jain said.

As concerns mounted over rising dengue cases, the municipal corporation came out with fresh data saying 613 cases have been reported in the last one week and a total of 1,041 patients tested positive for the vector borne disease between September 1-12.

Though MCD said five people have died of dengue this year, the figures given by various hospitals put the toll at eight.

"Two new death victims are -- 6-month-old Anishka, who was admitted to Hindu Rao Hospital on September 12 and Surjeet Singh, 54-year-old man admitted to Fortis Hospital in Vasant Kunj. Avinash, 7, from Lado Serai, was on suspected dengue victim list, but his case has now been confirmed," a senior official of SDMC said.

PTI