Over 40 cases of dengue confirmed in Gurugram

Gurugram: A sudden spurt is being witnessed in the incidence of dengue in Gurugram, with as many as 40 cases of the vector-borne disease having been confirmed officially.

However, bigger challenge for health officials in the district is the rise in number of suspected cases.

More than 500 suspected cases of dengue have been reported so far this year.

Moreover, on Wednesday, two more casualties were reported due to the mosquito-born disease, one of whom was a 13-year-old.

This year, most of the cases are being reported from the posh areas of the city.

A rapid response team has been set up by the district health department to tackle vector-borne diseases, including dengue and malaria, which are on the rise.

In addition to vector-borne diseases, diphtheria too is slowly affecting a large number of patients in the city.

After the death of a five-year-old earlier this month, another death was reported due to the bacterial disease on Wednesday, this time a four-year-old girl.

The grave danger that the diseases possess can be gauged from the fact that in Delhi, there have been 30 deaths due to disease.

Even the adjoining regions of the National Capital are not safe, with ten deaths already reported from Mewat.

"Diphtheria is a bacterial disease and its common symptoms include, sore throat, fever, cough, running nose, swelling in the neck, fall in blood pressure and irregular pulse, " said a senior doctor from Civil Hospital in Gurugram.

"If the toxin reaches heart muscles or larynx or voice box or nervous system, the anti-diphtheria serum proves ineffective and could even be the cause of death," he added.