Delhi feels sting with first dengue death of this year

New Delhi: This year’s first dengue death was reported from Sarita Vihar in which a 35-year-old woman lost her life due to the vector-borne disease. Though the death was reported on September 26, South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) took time to investigate the reason.

So far this year, 723 cases of dengue have been reported, including 243 within the past one week and 382 this month till October 16. In comparison, 395 cases were reported during the same period last year and 644 in 2019.

“The woman was admitted in Holy Family Hospital on September 20 in a late stage of the disease. Her condition deteriorated on the third day of admission and she was shifted to the ICU. She was declared dead on September 26,” SDMC mentioned in a statement.
The statement added, “The public health department has taken control measures in the neighbourhood and checked 426 houses for mosquito breeding. Violations were found in 12 houses. Later, fogging was done in 323 houses, 10 were issued legal notices for lapses and three were challaned.”

SDMC has issued 45,840 legal notices and prosecuted 5,218 people. Out of 72 lakh houses checked this year, mosquito breeding was found at 57, 547.

A senior SDMC official said four types of virus strains were in circulation. “According to scientists, when two strains circulate together, fatality remains high. This year two strains — type 1 & 2 — are circulating, but things are under control. Also, despite heavy rain and breeding of mosquitoes, there has not been an unexpected hike in cases of vector-borne diseases,” added the official.
As part of healthcare arrangements, the civic bodies have dedicated more beds for dengue patients and delayed non-critical surgeries. “A 40-bed dengue ward has been created, but as 75 such patients were admitted, they were accommodated in other wards. A surgical ward has been converted into a dengue ward. Elective surgeries have been put on hold,” said a senior doctor at Swami Dayanand Hospital in east Delhi.

Last week, 15 new cases of malaria were reported, taking the total number to 142.