A 41-year-old man from Rohini became the sixth victim of dengue in the capital, as the total number of diagnosed cases crossed the 4,000 mark for this year.
Health officials fearing that the count of the viral disease this year may cross the last outbreak seen in 2010, when more than 6,000 confirmed cases had been reported.
Neeraj Singh, a resident of Paschim Vihar in North Delhi, died on September 21 at Medanta Medicity, Gurgaon, three days after he was admitted with the classic dengue fever. Singh had tested positive for the IgM antibody for the dengue virus through ELISA technology — like five of the other deceased this year.
Only a six-year-old girl, who died at Safdarjung hospital last month, was diagnosed with the NS 1 antigen test for the virus, also through the ELISA technology.
Seven others who died with symptoms of dengue last month, and tested positive for either the antigen or antibody of the virus-through the rapid tests have been listed as "suspected" dengue deaths by the civic bodies.
Singh's death is the first confirmed one in the Rohini Zone, which, at 796 cases, has recorded the cases in a single zone. Two of the deaths from this area have been termed as "suspected".
A health official said, "In 2010, we saw over 6,000 cases of dengue. This year, the count may surpass the 2010 situation, since we still have a bit of October and November to go — months when cases keep coming. We have intensified fumigation efforts, but intermittent rains seen till last week are prolonging the cases."
According to the corporations, 4,074 confirmed cases of dengue were reported till Monday, with nearly 2000 cases being witnessed in October alone. Officials said the September count had surpassed that for 1962, which was the highest in a single month so far.
Forty patients this year are residents of neighbouring states who were admitted in Delhi hospitals for treatment.
All government and private hospitals have been directed to open fever wards and increase the availability of beds for dengue patients. Though no official orders have been issued from the state government, most government hospitals have postponed routine surgeries to create additional beds for management of dengue.
Officials say if patients who are testing positive through rapid tests are taken into count, the total count of patients may increase by 2-3 times. "These kits give a lot of false positives, so as per the Centre's guidelines, we have been asked to take only ELISA tests into account," a municipal health official explained.
The North Municipal Corporation with 1770 cases has recorded the highest cases, followed by the South civic body at 1,210 East corporation with 993.
Health officials fearing that the count of the viral disease this year may cross the last outbreak seen in 2010, when more than 6,000 confirmed cases had been reported.
Neeraj Singh, a resident of Paschim Vihar in North Delhi, died on September 21 at Medanta Medicity, Gurgaon, three days after he was admitted with the classic dengue fever. Singh had tested positive for the IgM antibody for the dengue virus through ELISA technology — like five of the other deceased this year.
Only a six-year-old girl, who died at Safdarjung hospital last month, was diagnosed with the NS 1 antigen test for the virus, also through the ELISA technology.
Seven others who died with symptoms of dengue last month, and tested positive for either the antigen or antibody of the virus-through the rapid tests have been listed as "suspected" dengue deaths by the civic bodies.
Singh's death is the first confirmed one in the Rohini Zone, which, at 796 cases, has recorded the cases in a single zone. Two of the deaths from this area have been termed as "suspected".
A health official said, "In 2010, we saw over 6,000 cases of dengue. This year, the count may surpass the 2010 situation, since we still have a bit of October and November to go — months when cases keep coming. We have intensified fumigation efforts, but intermittent rains seen till last week are prolonging the cases."
According to the corporations, 4,074 confirmed cases of dengue were reported till Monday, with nearly 2000 cases being witnessed in October alone. Officials said the September count had surpassed that for 1962, which was the highest in a single month so far.
Forty patients this year are residents of neighbouring states who were admitted in Delhi hospitals for treatment.
All government and private hospitals have been directed to open fever wards and increase the availability of beds for dengue patients. Though no official orders have been issued from the state government, most government hospitals have postponed routine surgeries to create additional beds for management of dengue.
Officials say if patients who are testing positive through rapid tests are taken into count, the total count of patients may increase by 2-3 times. "These kits give a lot of false positives, so as per the Centre's guidelines, we have been asked to take only ELISA tests into account," a municipal health official explained.
The North Municipal Corporation with 1770 cases has recorded the highest cases, followed by the South civic body at 1,210 East corporation with 993.
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