Dengue cases are on the rise in the national capital and many parts of the country and a large number of patients are being admitted.
A 32-year-old man from Bengal died after suffering from dengue haemorrhagic fever, which deteriorated his condition and led to multiple organ failure, Safdarjung Hospital spokesperson Poonam Dhanda told news agency PTI.
Both conditions are life threatening, and chances of survival are low. Dengue haemorrhagic fever is a severe form of dengue, causing bleeding, blood plasma leakage and a decrease in platelet count, which can lead to shock, organ failure and death if left untreated.
In the last 24 hours, Safdarjung Hospital has reported more than 15 confirmed cases and 13 suspected cases of dengue, and a total of 74 patients are currently admitted.
There have been two deaths since July 1, one at Safdarjung and the other at Lok Nayak Hospital.
Despite the rising number of cases and deaths, the municipal corporation responsible for weekly updates on confirmed dengue cases is yet to release a final report on the total deaths caused by the outbreak.
Cases of dengue and chikungunya have been reported in Mumbai, causing high fever, vomiting and severe body pain.
According to the BMC chart, between July 1 and September 14, the city reported 1,718 cases of dengue, 267 of chikungunya and 2,622 of malaria.
Dengue is a vector-borne disease that spreads highly during the monsoon season, which provides an ideal breeding time for Aedes mosquitoes to spread the virus.
To prevent dengue, pay attention to these precautions:
- Avoid mosquito bites: Use mosquito repellent, wear long-sleeved clothing, and use mosquito nets, especially during the early morning and late evening when Aedes mosquitoes are most active.
- Eliminate mosquito breeding sites: Remove stagnant water from pots, tyres, flower pots and coolers, as Aedes mosquitoes breed in clean, stagnant water.
- Use insecticides: Spray insecticides around houses, especially in areas where mosquitoes are likely to breed.
- Install the screen: Install mosquito nets on windows and doors to prevent mosquitoes from entering the house.
- Stay in air-conditioned rooms: This can help reduce mosquito infestation inside the home.
- Keep water containers covered: Make sure water tanks and storage containers are tightly covered to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs.
- Community awareness: Participate in local dengue prevention campaigns to reduce mosquito populations and raise awareness about the disease.