Dengue claims 5 more lives in Delhi

Five more deaths due to dengue, including that of a 16-year-old boy, have come to light in the national capital in what has proven to be the worst month for the outbreak of the disease in the last six years. Shev Bhatnagar, a student of class X, died this morning due to medical complications caused by dengue. Four more patients - an eight-year-old girl from Mathura, a 13-year-old boy from Karolbagh, a 35-year-old woman from Sagarpur - died at Ram Manohar Lohiya hospital in the last 24 hours while a seven-year-old girl succumbed to the vector- borne disease yesterday at Safdarjung Hospital.

Following these fatalities, the number of dengue deaths reoprted this season has risen to 37 even though the official figure for the toll still stands at 17. Shev, the son of a senior government servant, was diagnosed with dengue on Sunday, his family members said. "He (Shev) was being treated at home, but his condition deteriorated early this morning as he developed respiratory problems. He passed away while being taken to a private hospital," said a family member. Meanwhile, Sanskriti School, where Shev was a student, posted a condolence message on its website saying, "(He) was a bright and adorable child full of fun and mischief and contributed substantively to any discussions in class... He was popular in school. He will be greatly missed by everyone." Nearly 2,200 fresh cases of dengue have been reported in the last one week even as hospitals in the city continued to be flooded with patients affected by the mosquito-borne fever. According to the official figure released yesterday, at least 5,151 patients came down with dengue between September 1-26, making it the worst month for the outbreak of the disease in the last six years. Officials said the number of affected people this year is all set to overtake the total figure for 2010, when 6,259 cases were reported.

Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain yesterday assured that the government has made sufficient arrangements at all its hospitals to fight the vector-borne disease.