Dengue upsurge rings alarm bells

The epidemic of dengue fever spread as the number of cases crossed the 21,000 mark up to the second week of September this year. The death of two kids in Delhi served as an eye-opener for the Centre as well as the Delhi government with the former asking the later to take strict action against hospitals refusing admission to dengue patients and directed it to rein in private facilities.

As the national Capital battles the worst outbreak of dengue in the past five years with the total number of cases between January 1 and September 12 standing at 1,872, the Union Health Ministry has asked government hospitals to increase the number of beds in order to meet to the rush of patients.

“I held a meeting with the Delhi Health Minister and asked him to take strict action against hospitals refusing dengue patients. They have been asked to submit a report on the action taken. We have also assured that whatever support they need will be given,” Union Health Minister, JP Nadda said after chairing a high-level meeting with officials of RML, Safdarjung, and Lady Hardinge hospitals.

Talking to Millennium Post, RML Medical Superintendent, AK Gadpayle said, “We have sufficient beds for treating dengue patients. Of the total 1,266 beds in the hospital, 110 beds have been earmarked for dengue patients. If <g data-gr-id="64">number</g> of patients increased, we are capable of <g data-gr-id="69">accomodating</g> them.”

Since shortage of platelet is a <g data-gr-id="73">major co</g>ncern in dengue cases, Gadpayle, on the issue, said, “The RML has well-equipped diagnosis and treating facility and our doctors are capable of handling even critical cases. The platelet shortage will never be an issue here. In fact we are telling patients not to panic over platelet shortage.”

According to <g data-gr-id="60">latest</g> report of Ministry of Health, there <g data-gr-id="58">has</g> been 75,808 cases detected in 2013, while 40,571 cases were reported in 2014, and nearly 21,000 cases in 2015 up to <g data-gr-id="61">second</g> week of September. The Centre claimes recovery in over 99.99 per cent cases.

However, in Delhi, dengue cases and deaths are higher compared to last year as there were only 995 cases, while in 2015, about 1,872 cases have been detected and death toll has reached 10 against three last year.

“I have asked Delhi government to see that private hospitals do not charge unreasonably high fee” Nadda said. The Union <g data-gr-id="79">Hea</g>lth Minister has also directed all central government hospitals not to deny treatment to patients suffering from the fever or suspected dengue, and sought an increase in the bed strength by 1000 to accommodate all patients.

Nadda said he has been constantly and closely reviewing and monitoring the dengue situation in Delhi and other states, and holding high-level meetings with various agencies and hospitals including AIIMS to review the situation.

In view of the recent upsurge in dengue cases, the Ministry has increased the number of beds in the Central government hospitals while specific instructions have been conveyed to hospitals to accord priority to dengue cases and not to refuse any patient.

Experts noted the fever caused due to dengue is generally tackled the way other fevers are at home but in case of doubts or persisting fever, patients must be brought to the hospital for appropriate medicare. 

“The government hospitals are fully geared up to infuse platelets whenever there is a need,” the official statement said.

Hospitals and clinics across the city have been inundated with patients, putting a strain on emergency services. Earlier in the day, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that his government is planning to bring a law under which private hospitals refusing admission to emergency patients could be penalised.

Dengue cases usually become rampant during and just after the rainy season, which normally lasts from June to September. The <g data-gr-id="67">aedes</g> <g data-gr-id="68">aegypti</g> vector mosquito, which breeds during the rains, continues to reproduce and add to its numbers usually till the winter months. Since 1996 when the first outbreak occurred to recent times a change in the pattern of its occurrence in the capital has been noted by microbiologists.

According to reports, Kejriwal is conducting surprise visits to the hospitals in Delhi. His statements on the dengue crisis come after six-year-old Aman died of dengue, with his family claiming negligence by hospitals. Last week, seven-year-old Avinash had succumbed to the disease after allegedly being turned away by five hospitals which had driven his parents to suicide. After yet another death due to dengue and alleged hospital negligence, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said that the Delhi government was taking measures to improve the situation and further said that the hospitals which denied treatment to patients will be punished.