The Pioneer 16.09.2010
MCD trivialises dengue threatSana Shakil | New Delhi
In an attempt to downplay the dengue threat ahead of the Commonwealth Games, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has clearly covered up the actual number of affected patients.
So far, AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital and Guru Tegh Bahadur (GTB) Hospital have recorded four, six and five deaths respectively, whereas the MCD has maintained that only five persons have died of dengue.
Delhi is under the grip of dengue, but the municipal authorities are busy skirting figures to save faces. “The actual number of dengue patients in the city is at least three times more than what the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) says”, said a doctor on the condition of anonymity.
Dr Randeep Guleria, Professor in the department of medicine at AIIMS said, “The MCD accepts only those dengue patients tested positive by IGM Elisa test. They don’t count the patients who test positive by NS-1 antigen test. The first test is provided free by the Government, so most Government hospitals use this test whereas the NS-1 antigen test costs minimum `400.” He, however, maintained that the AIIMS conducts both the tests, but the MCD counts only the patients tested by IGM Elisa test.
Dr Randeep also said, “The NS-1 antigen test helps in diagnosing the patients faster. It narrows down the process of treatment.” A patient at AIIMS said, “I got myself tested NS-1 antigen test as I was in doubt if it was dengue, malaria or viral. I want my treatment to be proper so that I can get back to the work as soon as possible.”
Dr NK Yadav, Municipal Health Officer said the confirmed cases of dengue in the Capital so far include those reported from the private hospitals as well. Checks have revealed that after failing to control the spread of dengue, the MCD took the easy way out by arm-twisting some hospitals and clinics to hide the true figures. Sources at Holy Family Hospital said that it has alone reported 1,198 cases. This was the data given by the hospital three days ago. The hospital authorities could not be contacted for the fresh data.
A south Delhi pathologist, on the condition of anonymity, said that around 15 to 20 cases of dengue were reported in the Maharani Bagh area. “We are under pressure from the MCD inspectors not to report the dengue cases in our hospital. They want the numbers to be kept down to please their bosses as growing numbers in their areas reflect their callousness in keeping their area clean. This is one of the main reasons why the MCD figures are so low,” said the owner of a private nursing home from West Delhi who did not want to be named.
Dr Sanjeev Bagai, CEO, Batra Hospital, said, “Dengue may not subside before mid-October. The MCD uses IGM Elisa to testing dengue positive cases, but this test gives results only after the fifth day of infection. So, lots of cases go missed.” He also added, “NS-1 antigen test reveals the chances of dengue on the first and second day itself and it should be included in the MCD system of dengue measurement.”
On the record, Delhi has reported 1,933 cases of dengue so far. Hospitals that exposed MCD’s efforts to under-report dengue cases are Holy Family, AIIMS, Safdarjung, Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP), Ram Manohar Lohia (RML), Guru Tegh Bahadur (GTB), Max Healthcare in Saket and Batra Hospital. These few hospitals alone have revealed more than 2,000 cases.
This is a mere indicative of the actual figure that could further rise in the coming days. There are 1,800 Government and private hospitals in the Capital, of which 700 are registered.
