New Delhi is experiencing a Dengue fever outbreak — the worst in five years — and it's sending panic to the residents. The reported cases normally increase between June to September, during and after the rainy season.
In 2010, there were 1,695 cases of dengue reported. This year, 1,872 patients have tested positive, and seven have already died, CNN reported.
"There is a sense of panic. People insist on hospitalization even if symptoms are mild," Y.K. Mann, Delhi's director of the Municipal Corporation, said.
Hospitals and clinics across the city are overwhelmed with patients, thus placing a strain on emergency services.
New Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal made a surprise visit to the hospitals in the city following a reported incident of a 6-year-old boy who died from a suspected dengue case. According to the boy's father, several hospitals in the city refused to treat his child because of shortage of beds.
The government has reportedly ordered additional 1,000 beds to treat dengue patients, in addition to the "fever clinics," which were ordered by Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain, according to BBC. These were set up in the hospital primarily to deal with the rush of patients.
"There is no need to panic. I have ordered all government hospitals that they should not refuse to admit dengue patients even if they have to treat two patients on a single bed," the Minister said.
Mann told the AFP news agency that the outbreak will increase as long as the weather remains humid.
Dengue can be transmitted if an individual is bitten by an infected mosquito. They often lay eggs in open sewers, puddle and standing pools of water, which lead to an increase in prevalence during rainy season.
World Health Organization stated the infection has increased in the recent years because 40 percent of the world's population is living in disease-prone areas, Time reported.
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