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Public Health / Sanitation

Fearing spurt in dengue cases, AIIMS revives prevention cell

Tuesday, 10 August 2010 11:20 administrator
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The Times of India  10.08.2010

Fearing spurt in dengue cases, AIIMS revives prevention cell

NEW DELHI: With dengue tightening its grip on the city, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has reconstituted the Disease Prevention Response Outbreak Cell (DPROC) to monitor dengue cases. The cell was constituted during dengue outbreak in the the city in 2006. Experts fear that this year there is going to be an increase in dengue cases as the viral infection becomes more virulent every four years.

During the dengue outbreak in 2006, people from across the city, including the NCR region, went to AIIMS for getting tested. AIIMS authorities had a tough time trying to manage so many patients. "The cell will be responsible for preventing mosquito breeding and managing dengue patients at the institute. We are trying to work out a plan to ensure smooth management of patients. We will identify an area where dengue patients can be kept during an emergency like 2006,'' said Dr Bir Singh, in charge of DPROC, which was reconstituted last week.

According to sources, the decision to reconstitute DPROC was taken after AIIMS was served two notices from NDMC for mosquito breeding in the campus. "Breeding was found in the hospital and the junkyard near the car parking,'' said a source. This year, dengue cases have started coming very early. "We are getting a lot of positive cases now. Usually, we see an increase in the number of cases during September-October. This can be because of heavy rain this season. The weather is conducive for mosquito breeding,'' said Dr Shobha Broor, professor microbiology, AIIMS.

Experts fear that like 2006, this year again the number of cases is going to be high as dengue is a cyclic infection which becomes more virulent every four years. "This happens because with an increase in population every year, there are new cases. These get clubbed with old cases who were not affected in the previous year or the year before that and with those who were affected by one particular strain. All these when put together increase the number of people who can get affected,'' said Dr Singh.

Eight new cases were reported on Monday and 121 cases have been reported so far by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. "We are witnessing an increase in the number of dengue cases with each passing day. In 2006, only six cases were reported till July 31 as against 52 this year,'' said Dr N K Yadav, MHO, MCD.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 10 August 2010 11:22
 

As MCD gets tough on dengue, H1N1 adds to worry

Tuesday, 10 August 2010 10:01 administrator
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Indian Express    10.08.2010

As MCD gets tough on dengue, H1N1 adds to worry

Express News Service Tags : dengue, swineflu, delhi Posted: Tue Aug 10 2010, 02:01 hrs

 New Delhi:  In the last one week, 106 cases of H1N1 influenza have been reported from the Capital, leading to fears of another epidemic outbreak.

What makes the situation more worrying is the fact that cases of dengue are also on a rise — eight cases were reported from the Capital on Monday, taking the total number this season to 121. Since last year, Delhi has reported 9,895 cases and 100 deaths due to H1N1.

Together, experts said, H1N1 and dengue can prove troublemakers for the city as its gets ready to host the Commonwealth Games in October.

In conducive environmental conditions, the biggest worry for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and state health department is to control dengue and H1N1 outbreaks while hosting the international event.

According to epidemiological studies, dengue viral fever has a four-year cycle during which the endemic disease assumes epidemic proportionsIn 2006, nearly 50 people died due to dengue while approximately 3,600 cases were reported.

“Dengue fever typically peaks in September-October and we are expecting maximum cases around that time. We have intensified our efforts but are keeping our fingers crossed,” said Dr N K Yadav, Municipal Health Officer, MCD.

According to the authorities, cases of H1N1 have been steadily increasing over the past few weeks. “We have nearly 15-17 cases a day now. The dip in temperature makes it conducive for the virus to multiply,” said Dr Debasish Bhattacharya, Delhi government’s nodal officer for H1N1.

Epidemiologists maintain H1N1 cases will continue to trickle in for years, following the patterns set by previous pandemics. 

“Whatever is happening is an extension of a pattern. At present, dengue is a bigger worry than H1N1 because the mortality is much higher in dengue. While H1N1 has self-limiting infections, dengue requires intensive monitoring of patients, which will test Delhi’s health infrastructure in the coming months,” said Dr Bir Singh, professor of Community Medicine at the AIIMS.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 10 August 2010 10:04
 

Dengue a bigger threat: Walia

Tuesday, 10 August 2010 06:36 administrator
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Hindustan Times  10.08.2010

Dengue a bigger threat: Walia

Health Minister Kiran Walia has said the widespread breeding of dengue and other vector-borne disease-causing mosquitoes across the city is a bigger threat than swine flu ahead of the Commonwealth Games.  “Dengue is our primary focus right now. Breeding is found in critical areas, and it’s a

cause for concern. We are doing everything possible to check its outbreak,” she said.

“As for swine flu, I’m in regular touch with medical superintendents of all hospitals, and they have assured me there’s no need to panic,” she added.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) recently found mosquitoes breeding at various Commonwealth Games construction sites and some prominent Delhi hospitals and issued challans.

Mosquito-breeding was detected at a large number at places such as the Games village near Akshardham temple, under-construction flats at Vasant Kunj, Yamuna Sports Complex, Indira Gandhi Stadium and R.K. Khanna Stadium, AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College and GB Pant hospitals. 

The city already has seen 121 reported cases of the disease, with eight fresh cases confirmed on Monday.

A total of 77 dengue cases have been reported from MCD areas, followed by 22 in New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) areas and the remaining from outside the state.

“It’s alarming to see some CWG sites and even hospitals in the list of violators. We have collaborated with MCD to devise ways to stop the disease from spiralling out of control,” said Kiran Walia.

In a recent meeting with the civic agency, Walia created a task force specifically to check the spread of vector-borne diseases in the city.

The task force has representatives from the state health ministry as well as MCD, NDMC, Delhi cantonment, railway hospitals, etc.

Dr V.K. Monga, chairman of the medical relief and public health wing of the MCD, will head the task force, which will meet after every two days to check the situation.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 10 August 2010 06:38
 
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