Chikungunya and Dengue outbreak: Toll reaches 31, government starts helpline

Vector-borne diseases dengue and chikungunya rose to scary proportions in the national capital with 31 deaths being reported till Thursday. Thirteen deaths were reported from chikungunya and 18 deaths from dengue.

With the spurt in the vector-borne diseases, the Delhi government urged Union health minister J.P. Nadda to call a meeting of health ministers of Delhi and neighbouring states to review healthcare facilities.

The Delhi government on Thursday launched a helpline to provide medical assistance to people and help them locate nearest fever clinics.

A senior government official said people can call at 011-22307145 to get information relating to nearest fever clinics and also medical assistance.

The municipal authorities, which complies report on vector borne diseases, claimed only four deaths from dengue and no deaths from chikungunya till September 10. Nine deaths from dengue and one death from chikungunya were reported on Tuesday.

Out of total 18 dengue deaths, nine deaths were reported from the country’s premier health institute AIIMS. A statement released on Thursday on vector-borne disease cases at the AIIMS said: “Nine dengue patients have died from September 1 till date. A total of 96 patients were admitted to AIIMS, out of which 56 have been discharged. Among the patients, 70 per cent belonged to Uttar Pradesh, 10 per cent to Bihar and rest to Delhi.”

Till Tuesday, at least nine deaths due to dengue were reported this year in the city, five more than the official figure of four deaths due to dengue. About 1,158 cases of dengue have been reported in the national capital.

A 75-year-old man from South Delhi died due to chikungunya complications at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. J.D. Madan died on Thursday morning at the SGRH, the fifth person to have lost his life to complications triggered by chikungunya at the hospital in last four days. “The patient, a resident of Kalkaji, was admitted on August 12 night with complaints of fever and chills along with swelling and rashes on body. He was also a patient of chronic myeloid monocytic leukemia. He had acute febrile illness and was tested positive for chikungunya and died at 6:45am,” said SGRH in a press statement.

In a letter to Mr Nadda, Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain said the Delhi government was making best efforts to coordinate with the Union health ministry to tackle the outbreak of dengue and chikungunya. “It is requested that a meeting may be convened inviting the health ministers of the NCR region to review the state-wise action required to augment healthcare facilities,” Mr Jain added.