Health scare: Dengue cases past 1,800, CM Arvind Kejriwal says tackle panic

“When you visit hospitals, talk to the patients. See that there is no panic. Ensure that there is enough stock of medicines, the hospital is clean and no one is turned away. See that there are ample testing kits available. In case of any shortage, please tell us,” Kejriwal told the MLAs.

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The city’s three municipal corporations reported 1,870 cases till September 12, with 613 being reported last week, according to latest official data released Monday.

A bulk of these cases, at least 1,040, were reported in September. According to municipal data, three more dengue deaths have been confirmed taking the toll from the virus this year to five.

About 158 patients from other states have been treated for dengue in Delhi hospitals. With 776 cases, North Municipal Corporation reported the highest number cases in the capital, followed by the South corporation with 499 cases. Over 150 cases have been reported in areas under the East corporation.

Health minister Satyendar Jain also launched a 24/7 helpline number, 23307145. Jain said this will provide all relevant information about dengue and its treatment.

Jain also said there is an “urgent need” to dispel the notion of panic. “This panic in people about the spread of dengue is leading to a huge burden on hospitals,” he said. He directed the three commissioners to ensure MCD workers go house-to-house to ensure that all sources of stagnant water are treated.

The minister also directed the MCD commissioners to send bulk SMSes to people with the message that dengue is curable and there is no cause for panic.

Many hospitals have also been reporting a flood of patients with fever, of which only a limited number tested positive for dengue. At Baba Saheb Ambedkar hospital in Rohini — one of the hospitals Jain visited Sunday —surgery wards have been converted to medicine wards, and over 450 patients with fever have been admitted.

A doctor in the medicine department said, “Only about 200 of these patients have dengue. People are panicking and demanding to be admitted. Unless the diagnosis is very late or if the patient’s platelet levels are dropping or if there is severe dehydration and loss of fluids, dengue patients can stay at home and consume a lot of fluids.”