Hosps Asked To Keep 15% Beds For Dengue

Cases Drop In Past Week, But Admissions Surge

- Somrita Ghosh

Though the number of dengue cases dropped marginally this week, the number of admission in hospitals has gone up. The city logged 937 dengue cases this year till September-end and 321 more cases in the first five days of October, taking the tally to 1,258, according to data released by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi on Monday.

Taking note of the rising dengue cases, Delhi government said on Tuesday that all city hospitals had been asked to reserve 10-15% for patients of vector-borne diseases and also to ensure that no such patient was denied admission due to a lack of beds.

Dr. Sumit Ray, head of critical care medicine, Holy Family Hospital, confirmed the increase in hospital admission of patients infected by the mosquito-borne disease. "We are noticing this time more liver dysfunction and capillary leak among patients. Currently, we have 35 patients of all age groups in the hospital, four of whom are in the ICU. However, there are fewer senior citizens infected, perhaps because they are staying indoors and not getting exposed to mosquitos outside," Ray said.