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Dengue scare takes its toll

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI OCT. 14. The rising incidence of dengue in the Capital and satellite townships has created a scare not only among residents of various areas here but also among people in other parts of the country. As many as 37 dengue cases were reported on Tuesday, taking the total to 869.

Many labourers and students - who go home during Id and Diwali every year -- are leaving a little early this year which they attribute to the increase in the number of dengue cases in Delhi. "It is better to go now and come back when the situation becomes normal,'' said Buddh Singh, a resident of Katihar who works here in an optical shop in Subhash Nagar in West Delhi.

Officials of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi are, however, not perturbed. "We have not been able to create an awareness amongst people about dengue on the scale in which it is required. As a result, rumours are in circulation especially among the lower strata of the society,'' said a senior official of the MCD Health Department.

Even people eager to come to the Capital from other parts of the country are having second thoughts. Delhiites these days have been receiving a number of calls from their relatives, friends and acquaintances regarding dengue. "Basically, it is the media which has created a scare. There have been only two deaths so far,'' the official said.

Rajan Kumar, who was scheduled to come to Delhi from Barauni for treatment at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital last week, cancelled his tickets just because of the dengue scare. "We do not want to take any risks,'' said his father over phone to his relative here. However, after their relatives managed to convince them that there was nothing to panic, they have finally decided to come this week. Similar reports are coming in from other parts of the Capital as well.

Officials of the Health Department said they were receiving similar reports. "This is all due to panic. There is an urgent need to launch a massive awareness campaign to

remove this scare among the people,'' he said and added: "We are distributing handbills in the various parts of city.'' On Tuesday, 67,012 handbills were distributed.

Meanwhile, the Municipal Commissioner, Rakesh Mehta, said as many as 600 beds have been kept aside for dengue patients in various Government hospitals. "The situation is under control. There is no reason for panic and it would subside soon,'' he argued.

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