With one more death of child reported due to deadly “diphtheria” disease on Monday at North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NMC)-run Maharishi Valmiki Infectious Diseases Hospital in Kingsway Camp, the total toll has reached 19 now.
All the 19 children died allegedly due to non-availability of diphtheria antitoxin (serum). Meanwhile, the civic official confirmed on Sunday that 200 units of serum from the Central Research Institute, Kasauli, have reached to the hospital.
According to the civic body, a total of 157 children were admitted to the hospital with complaints of infectious diphtheria disease. Out of 18 who died, 18 belonged to Uttar Pradesh while one was from Delhi, it stated.
A team of World Health Organisation also visited the hospital to take the stock of the situation.
Hospital administration in a statement issued last week stated that children were admitted in very advance stages and did not respond to the treatment. Most of them were not vaccinated for diphtheria, it said.
The North Delhi Mayor Adesh Gupta has formed a high-level enquiry committee under the chairmanship of the Additional Commissioner (Health) to ascertain the cause of deaths.
The diphtheria toxin causes a membrane of dead tissue to build up over the throat and tonsils, making breathing and swallowing difficult.
The disease is spread through direct physical contact or from breathing in the aerosolised secretions from coughs or sneezes of infected individuals.