Delhi on the verge of a dengue fever epidemic

Oct 3 2006

Diseases such as dengue and malaria are common in the monsoon season and the Indian capital, Delhi appears to be in the grip of a likely epidemic of dengue fever.

In the last two weeks the mosquito-borne disease has killed 11 victims and infected more than 400 others in and around the capital.

Indian health officials have launched a major drive to contain the outbreak with thousands of workers across the city spraying pesticides as part of a door-to-door campaign.

Mosquito bourne diseases such as dengue and malaria can cause high fevers with flu-like symptoms, and even lead to death.

Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water.

Possibly of more concern is that the country's top public hospital, Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has been one of the worst hit, where 45 people have been affected, including 18 medical staff, and one doctor has died.

The hospital has established a special out patient department to screen patients suffering from fever and over 1500 patients have already been examined and 15 admitted in the past 24 hours.

Hospital authorities are under pressure as all patients who have fevers are being referred to AIIMS along with any who have been diagnosed with low blood platelets.

While patients complain about the lack of facilities in the hospital, the hospital authorities have decided to augment casualty and emergency services to cope with the increasing number of patients.

As there are no preventive vaccines available for dengue fever, the authorities are focussing on cleaning up the city and have appealed to the public to be on alert.

Delhi's health minister, Yoganand Shastri says if the outbreak is not contained within the next 24 hours, the authorities will be forced to declare an epidemic.