Six-year-old among five new dengue deaths in Delhi, Mansukh Mandaviya reviews situation

Apart from the six-year-old from Tri Nagar who died on October 15, the other victims include a 17-year-old boy from a jhuggi in Pitampura and a 27-year-old man from Punjabi Bagh who died on October 16. This is as per data from the North MCD.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya Monday directed the Union health secretary to identify and send a team of experts to states with high active dengue cases, as he reviewed the situation in Delhi. Chairing a high-level meeting with the Delhi government to review public health measures taken for control and management of dengue, Mandaviya said in a tweet, “Reviewed the dengue situation in Delhi & assured Centre’s full support. On-ground initiatives like hotspot identification, fogging and timely treatment will be carried out to curb disease. Centre is also sending a team of experts to states with rising dengue cases.”

Reviewed the Dengue situation in Delhi & assured Centre’s full support.

On-ground initiatives like hotspot identification, fogging & timely treatment will be carried out to curb disease.

Centre is also sending a team of experts to States with rising Dengue cases. pic.twitter.com/B0KULaexr5

— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) November 1, 2021

The sudden spike in the past three weeks has also led to several hospitals struggling to tackle the crisis. Owing to the surge, the Delhi government has said hospitals may use one-third of the beds reserved for Covid-19 patients for those suffering from vector-borne diseases, if the need arises.

Schools, unauthorised colonies, and construction sites are among the hotspots for mosquito breeding in Delhi, said senior MCD officials. SDMC Mayor Mukesh Suryan said that fogging has been intensified in all areas and the situation will be under control.

Dengue mosquito larvae breed in clear, standing water while that of malaria thrive in dirty water. Cases of vector-borne diseases are usually reported between July and November, but the period may stretch till mid-December.