Dengue outbreak: 1,000 and counting in Delhi

NEW DELHI: The number of dengue cases has crossed the 1000-mark in the capital with 72 fresh cases being reported, notwithstanding the claims by the Delhi government that there was a slow down in the number of people afflicted by the disease.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's grandson Madhav (17), who was admitted to AIIMS with dengue symptoms last week, was discharged on Tuesday.

The number of dengue cases has spiralled to 1,029 even as the death toll remained unchanged at 23, Delhi Health Secretary D S Negi said.

He said the government was continuing its anti-dengue drive which included intensified fogging and fumigation exercise across the capital, especially in sensitive areas like central, Shahdra (north) and Najafgarh zones.

Negi said there were no confirmed cases of chikungunya reported in the capital so far.

According to official data, this year there was a three-fold increase in the number of dengue cases as compared to the corresponding period previous year. Last year, the number of cases were 297 for the same period.

Out of 1,029 cases, 651 are from Delhi while 378 were reported from other states like Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.

Delhi accounted for 71 fresh cases on Monday while 61 patients were admitted on Sunday and 81 on Saturday.