AIIMS reports 10 deaths, toll rises to 33

As per the data provided by hospitals so far 18 patients have died due to dengue, 13 due to chikungunya and two have died due to malaria. 

The figures from the hospitals came amid a raging controversy over deaths due to chikungunya and dengue with Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain reiterating that these mosquito-borne diseases are not fatal. 

“Scientifically, dengue and chikungunya are not fatal. We have ordered an inquiry into the deaths reported from Sir Ganga Ram hospital and other hospitals in the city too,” said Jain. He further added that the report is expected in a day or two. AIIMS released its figures of deaths due to mosquito-borne diseases on Thursday in which 70 per cent of the deceased hailed from Uttar Pradesh, 10 per cent from Bihar and 20 per cent from Delhi. 

On Thursday, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital confirmed another death due to chikungunya as 75-year-old J D Madan, who was also suffering from leukaemia, died at 6:45 am. There are also reports that a 40-year-old succumbed due to chikungunya at Fortis, Shalimar Bagh. So far, Apollo and Sir Ganga Ram hospitals have reported as many as five deaths each due to chikungunya. 

Jain visited 12 hospitals of the Delhi government on Thursday and claimed that proper equipment are in place to tackle the crisis.  Jain has also directed hospitals to admit all critical patients even if extra beds were required. “We have over 1,000 vacant beds. No patient will be denied admission. We will add more beds and if required more than one patient will be adjusted on one bed,” he added. 

As all the hospitals are facing a huge rush, the problems of patients are further compounded as a longer process is involved in tests of chikungunya. 

A senior microbiologist from Safdarjung hospital said: “The test of chikungunya —  EGG — takes seven days which bounds the patients and their relatives to visit the hospitals several times. 

The situation for out-station patients is worse as they are required to stay here”. 

With more than 150 chikungunya samples received daily at Safdarjung hospital, 93 samples get tested daily. The much quicker and efficient RT-PCR test is not used in most of the government hospitals owing to the fact that it is an expensive one.