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Written By: Editorial Team | Updated : October 19, 2012 11:45 AM IST
Delhi Dengue numbers rise by 33 new cases, health officials struggle to find a foothold
The capital has recorded another 33 fresh cases of dengue in the past few days. The city is reeling under the ever increasing cases of this preventable disease. The current numbers show that a total of 551 cases have been recorded. According to officials fumigation has been intensified to check the outbreak. The health department is keeping a close watch on the availability of platelets and enough beds for critical patients. Arrangements have been made in both government and private hospitals.
When asked about the crisis, the health minister said that they have taken up campaigns to spread awareness on dengue symptoms, severity and prevention. The deluge of cases has only helped in showing the lack in manpower that the city's health department is suffering. Half the number of cases were recorded at Shahdara (north and south), which falls under the East Delhi Municipal Corporation's jurisdiction. According to Mehek Singh, chairman, standing committee, East Delhi Municipal Corporation, they have not hired more people due to a financial crunch. They do promise though, that they will take up the problem with higher authorities.
Adding to the misery the fogging machines don't work. When asked, Singh said that the machines are getting repaired and that they have asked for more machines. The municipal corporation has 4,281 officials in Shahdara (South) and 3,693 in Shahdara (North). Corporation officials say that they are still trying to work out the number of officials they need.
According to the Directorate of National Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme, as per their anti-larval cross examination, mosquito- breeding is still high in some areas. As a part of their campaign the Delhi Muncipal Corporation recently issued challans to institutions like IIT and JNU for not checking mosquito breeding. Health officials say mosquito-breeding is most common inside homes and offices rather than drains or parks, And all citizens should keep their surroundings free of stagnant water and other breeding areas.
Officials are hopeful that with a drop in the temperature the number of cases will also reduce.
