As the national capital reported this season’s first dengue death – an 18-year-old succumbing to the mosquito borne virus last week, the Delhi government on Tuesday issued an advisory to prevent spread of the disease. The girl, a resident of Jafrabad in north-east Delhi, died at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital on July 21.
Advertisement
Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain said the city government is “all prepared” and plans to open 350 dengue clinics to tackle any situation.
The death comes on the heels of Delhi registering 90 cases of the mosquito-borne disease, by July 23.
“We have made preparation for treatment of dengue patients”.
With the change in weather and increasing humidity, doctors in the capital have said there is a 30 per cent rise in the number of viral fever cases this monsoon season, and cautioned children to take extra precautionary measures.
“There are two aspects -prevention and cure”. Doctors said the sudden spike in the cases of viral fever in July is a cause of worry. Earlier, Jain said around 250-300 fever clinic corners would be set up in the hospitals, dispensaries and mohalla clinics by September. “For prevention, we are doing meeting with the corporations”, he said. “Dedicated dengue beds have been earmarked in hospitals”, it added. Some may also have a rash and varying degree of bleeding from various parts of the body (including nose, mouth and gums or skin bruising).Dengue has a wide spectrum of infection outcome (asymptomatic to symptomatic).
The government has directed all the hospitals “to admit dengue cases on priority basis, and to ensure that no patient is denied admission”.
Advertisement
Last year, the city saw an outbreak of dengue with State government having to pull in additional resources within days – procure around 1,000 beds, open disaster wards [in government/private hospitals] for dengue patients, and even accommodate patient rush in porta cabins.
