The Times of India 28.07.2010
Three more dengue cases in Delhi, MCD sounds alert
NEW DELHI: An alert has been sounded in the city to control the spread of dengue. With the Commonwealth Games round the corner and the fear of a dengue epidemic looming large, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has said it will further intensify the spray of chemical larvicides. The civic body started a special training programme for doctors on Tuesday to strengthen case management and curb fatalities due to the viral infection. Meanwhile, three new cases of dengue were reported in the city on Tuesday taking the total count this season to 31.
"To strengthen the case management of different forms of dengue dengue fever, dengue haemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome and to follow standardized protocol, we are training physicians and paediatricians. We plan to involve Delhi Medical Association in this program so that private practitioners are also involved,'' said municipal health officer Dr N K Yadav. He said that excessive administration of fluids and blood has been observed in some cases.
"Administration of blood and platelets is not required in all cases. But doctors tend to do so and it leads to unnecessary panic at times,'' Yadav said. A meeting of the medical superintendents and nodal officers of all 33 sentinel surveillance hospitals in Delhi will be held on Thursday to deliberate further on the issue, he added.
Dr Bir Singh, head of the community medicine department at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), said that if in July-end three-four dengue cases are reported daily the situation should not be seen as alarming. "The number of cases reported to date is not epidemologically significant. However, this year the potency of the dengue virus is expected to be higher and extensive surveillance as well as anti-larval spray is needed. We cannot depend on the civic agencies alone to check mosquito breeding. Public participation is more important,'' said Singh. He said that people who have contracted the disease before should take extra precaution because they may get hit by a more severe strain of dengue dengue haemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome.
"To strengthen the case management of different forms of dengue dengue fever, dengue haemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome and to follow standardized protocol, we are training physicians and paediatricians. We plan to involve Delhi Medical Association in this program so that private practitioners are also involved,'' said municipal health officer Dr N K Yadav. He said that excessive administration of fluids and blood has been observed in some cases.
"Administration of blood and platelets is not required in all cases. But doctors tend to do so and it leads to unnecessary panic at times,'' Yadav said. A meeting of the medical superintendents and nodal officers of all 33 sentinel surveillance hospitals in Delhi will be held on Thursday to deliberate further on the issue, he added.
Dr Bir Singh, head of the community medicine department at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), said that if in July-end three-four dengue cases are reported daily the situation should not be seen as alarming. "The number of cases reported to date is not epidemologically significant. However, this year the potency of the dengue virus is expected to be higher and extensive surveillance as well as anti-larval spray is needed. We cannot depend on the civic agencies alone to check mosquito breeding. Public participation is more important,'' said Singh. He said that people who have contracted the disease before should take extra precaution because they may get hit by a more severe strain of dengue dengue haemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome.
