Click to play videoNew Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday expressed its anguish over the Centre and Delhi Government for not complying with its 1996 order directing it to take preventive measures against the outbreak of dengue in the Capital.
A Bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Vijender Jain directed the central and Delhi governments and the local civic agencies to file an affidavit giving details about what steps have been taken so far to control the disease.
"If 3,000 reported cases and 40 deaths cannot ring the alarm bell, the day is not far that the people will suffer with dengue today, chikungunya tommorrow or some unknown disease," said the court.
In 1996, when the disease reached similar proportions, the court passed a series of directions to the Government to check and prevent recurrence of the virus spread by the aedes mosquitoes.
As many as 30 fresh cases were being reported from the premier health institute AIIMS alone in the past 24 hours till 0800 hrs(IST) on Friday.
Overall, till today 114 patients suffering from dengue are being treated in the hospital of which total 26 are from the AIIMS campus. Fourteen patients have left for the home after getting medical treatment, said the official.
While Delhi and adjoining areas are the worst affected, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra haven't been spared either.
Meanwhile, three persons, including two girls, have died of suspected dengue and 44 blood samples of patients have been sent to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases in Delhi, a health official said on Friday.
The administration has stepped up precautionary measures such as cleaning and undertaking fogging operations given the increase in the number of cases of mosquito-borne diseases in the district, Chief Medical Officer Subhash Maheshwari said.
He said 44 blood samples had been sent to the Delhi laboratory for examination and their reports were awaited.
Maheshwari said three persons, including two minor girls, had died due to suspected dengue or viral fever and its confirmation was also awaited from NICD.
The locals have also initiated cleanliness drives in their areas in the wake of the dengue scare.
Dengue alert
- Dengue is a viral fever caused by the Aedes mosquito.
- While malaria is caused by the Anopheles mosquito and there are definite anti-malarials available, no specific anti-virals available for dengue.
- Dengue can often be confused with influenza, typhoid, meningitis and viral hepatitis.
- It can be prevented by avoiding mosquito breeding in stagnating water, in broken flower-pots and old tyres. Coolers must be cleaned regularly. Use mosquito nets at night and if you get fever see a doctor immediately.
If diagnosed with dengue:
- Keep the patient inside a mosquito net and give him/her a liquid diet. For fever or pain do not give Aspirin or Brufen and don't ignore even minor bleeding as it could be a sign of complications such as dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome.
- Indications of complications include bleeding from the gums, nostrils, skin or rectal bleeding. Cold and clammy skin, low blood pressure, weak pulse rate and drop in blood platelets are some of the other signs.
- In case of complications hospitalisation may be required. As of now no vaccines are available and treatment is largely symptomatic. For headache and body ache Paracetamol is recommended.
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