4 more die of swine flu, dengue

A little over a month before the Commonwealth Games begins in October, Delhi is facing a health scare. On Monday, three deaths were reported due to swine flu. Rhythma Kaul reports

A little over a month before the Commonwealth Games begins in October, Delhi is facing a health scare.

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On Monday, three deaths were reported due to swine flu.

Another death was blamed on dengue. An 11-year-old boy became the third victim of dengue this year. All victims of the mosquito-borne disease so far have been children less than 12 years of age.

The boy died at Jaipur Golden Hospital on Sunday evening. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) received a laboratory report, confirming the cause as dengue on Monday.

The civic body, however, claims it is yet to ascertain the actual cause since the victim was suffering from other complications also.

"The boy also had septicaemia and acute gastroenterital infection," said N.K. Yadav, MCD medical health officer.

Meanwhile, three men have died of H1N1 virus in the last three days — two of them were from outside Delhi.

The total number of swine flu deaths in the city has reached 29, out of which 11 are from outside the Capital. With 37 confirmed cases on Monday, the total swine flu numbers has reached 873.

With 63 new cases confirmed on Monday, the total number of dengue cases reached 863, which is more than 200 times higher than the cases reported till August last year.

With the MCD's 3,200 domestic breeding checkers (DBC) — who conduct door-to-door checks to prevent mosquito breeding — threatening to go on an indefinite strike from September 6, the situation can only worsen.

The DBCs, who work on a contractual basis for MCD, went on a daylong tool-down strike on Monday to press for their demand of permanent jobs.