The Delhi government on Monday decided to drain artificial water bodies such as fountains immediately to stop the spread of dengue.
Health minister Yoganand Shastri took the decision following reports that the Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes might be breeding in such places.
"Fountains and other such water bodies would be closed only till the dengue threat persists," said Shastri after he chaired a meeting to review the dengue position in the Capital. The water in these fountains would be drained out to prevent mosquito breeding.
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, meanwhile, claimed that the dengue outbreak was now "under control". Emerging from a Cabinet meeting on the disease, the Dikshit said there was no dearth of platelets in government hospitals.
The government has also decided to lend a helping hand to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Shastri has instructed nine deputy commissioners, responsible for district administration, to monitor the dengue control programme on a priority basis. The minister pledged all financial support to the MCD for the purchase of equipment like fogging machines to control the outbreak.
The state government also gave an area wise break-up of the dengue cases reported in different civic zones of the city. According to the figures, the Central Zone has reported the highest number of cases (110) followed by Najafgarh (72), Shahdara North (70), Shahdara South (46), Civil Lines (33), Rohini (36), City (6), Karol Bagh (48), West Zone (45), South Zone (37) and Narela (10). Health department officials said 23 cases have also been reported in NDMC areas also.
{{/usCountry}}The state government also gave an area wise break-up of the dengue cases reported in different civic zones of the city. According to the figures, the Central Zone has reported the highest number of cases (110) followed by Najafgarh (72), Shahdara North (70), Shahdara South (46), Civil Lines (33), Rohini (36), City (6), Karol Bagh (48), West Zone (45), South Zone (37) and Narela (10). Health department officials said 23 cases have also been reported in NDMC areas also.
{{/usCountry}}Interestingly, the government is yet to compile the figures of dengue patients admitted in private hospitals. "We would be able to get the figures soon as the primary focus of the department is treatment rather than compiling statistics," said an official who attended the meeting chaired by the health minister.
10 more cases in Ghaziabad
Assistant chief medical officer of Ghaziabad AK Dhawan said 10 confirmed dengue cases were reported on Monday, taking the total figure to 108 confirmed cases in the district. A private hospital has also reported suspected cases of chikungunya. Dr S Chakarvorty of Metro Hospital said, "Two suspected chikanguniya cases have been reported this week. Though last week, a sample was sent to National Institute of Communicable Disease (NICD) but it could not be tested. Another suspected chikanguniya case has been reported on Monday. About 30 suspected dengue cases were reported today." ESI Hospital authorities said they had postponed surgeries to tackle the dengue outbreak.
With inputs from MK Mittal