Reports of a dozen suspected dengue deaths in the Capital have prompted civic bodies to swing into action and two health department officials have been suspended for mosquito breeding.
With rampant cases of dengue in Rohini zone of North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NMC), Municipal Commissioner PK Gupta has suspended the Deputy Health Office and Malaria Inspector for negligence. Officials said four deaths have been reported from Shahbad Daulatpur area but it is yet to be ascertained whether these deaths were caused by dengue.
Four deaths on Monday night created panic in the area even as Municipal authorities claimed no effort was being spared to check mosquito breeding. North Delhi Mayor Azad Singh, Commissioner PK Gupta and other senior officials combed the area on Tuesday evening.
Additional Commissioner (Health) Mayank Sharma said all four deaths are unconfirmed. “The exact cause of the deaths is not known yet. We have suspended two officials. Further, outdoor and indoor fogging has been intensified in Rohini and other zones to control the number of dengue and malaria cases. In order to provide treatment and diagnosis facilities at the doorstep of citizens in this zone, the Corporation will station two mobile dispensaries in Shahbad Daulatpur and one each in Buddh Vihar and Kirari from Wednesday,” Sharma said. He said the leaves of medical and paramedical staff of all the polyclinics falling under North Corporation’s jurisdiction have been cancelled till the situation is brought under control.
According to the civic agency, the number of beds has also been increased at Hindu Rao Hospital and Kasturba Hospital for dengue patients.
In a meeting, North Delhi Mayor Azad Singh warned officials responsible to discharge their duties efficiently adding that since most of the mosquito breeding was found in residential houses, people must cooperate with the fogging staff when they visit their areas. Meanwhile, 443 new dengue cases have been reported since Friday last week taking the tally to 1,355.
It is an increase of almost 50 per cent in the last four days, officials said, adding that maximum cases are generally reported during September-end due to favourable conditions for the breeding of the Aedes mosquito. The number of cases has risen to 1,355 from 912 on September 19, as per report released by the Municipal Corporations.