Govt asks hospitals to add beds as dengue cases rise

“Delhi government has directed all hospitals and nursing homes (including privates) to increase their bed strength up to 10 to 20 per cent for a period of three months, as part of the preparation to effectively deal with dengue cases,” a statement said.

A dedicated dengue control cell has already been functioning at the Directorate General of Health Services to conduct dengue related measures, it said, adding that the government aimed to increase the number of dedicated fever clinics from 55 last year to 355.

“Any hospital or lab which charges more than the fixed ceiling price for dengue testing and platelet count will face action,” it said.

“The hospitals have been advised to have ‘fever corners’ which will function at all hours. The staff at these clinics have been sensitised about prevention and treatment of dengue,” it said.

The sale of drugs like Aspirin, Ibuprofen and Diclofenac group of medicines which cause destruction of platelets in human blood, was also restricted in the national Capital. These drugs will be sold strictly against prescription by a registered medical practitioner, the health department said.

As part of awareness campaign, schools and colleges will also be roped in to spread awareness about the disease. 

At least 119 cases of dengue have been reported in the national capital this season, with 91 of these being recorded last month alone, according to a municipal report released on Monday. A total of 62 cases were reported till July 23 with May recording six cases and June witnessing 15, it said. As per the report, the number of vector-borne disease cases recorded last month till July 30 stands at 91. Twenty-nine fresh cases have been reported since the last count and the total number of cases so far in the city is at least 119, a senior civic official said. Last year, the city saw a staggering 15,867 dengue cases, the worst in 20 years with the disease claiming 60 lives, as per municipal reports. 

This year, dengue cases have been reported rather early. Last year, only six cases were reported in June, while July registered 36. Sadar Paharganj and Karol Bagh Zones under North Delhi Municipal Corporation reported a case each, while Najafgarh Zone of South Delhi Municipal Corporation has recorded six cases. West, Central and South Zones of South Corporation recorded two, four and three cases respectively, said a senior official of SDMC, which compiles dengue report on behalf of all the civic bodies in the city. SDMC has reported 15 cases overall while EDMC has recorded three. Of the total number of cases, 29 were reported from areas outside the jurisdiction of the three municipal corporations. While 16 cases were reported from Uttar Pradesh, six of those diagnosed with the disease came from Haryana, and 48 of them came from other states.