SEEING IS BELIEVING: Ending weeks of estrangement, Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss and AIIMS Director Dr. P. Venugopal going round the dengue-chikungunya wards at the Institute in Delhi on Wednesday. - PHOTO: R.V. MOORTHY

NEW DELHI: With dengue yet to loosen its grip on Delhi, the Capital now has another vector-borne disease to reckon with: chikungunya.

According to figures released by the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme on Wednesday, over 20 chikungunya cases have been confirmed in the city so far.

Meanwhile, the number of dengue cases continued to rise on Wednesday with 39 new ones admitted to the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here. With this, the total so far has shot up to 1,101. The disease has killed 23 people so far.

AIIMS spokesperson Shakti Gupta said: "Forty-two patients were discharged from the Institute, 170 dengue patients are currently under treatment in the hospital, and we have screened 945 patients for dengue."

To review the management of dengue patients and medical infrastructure at AIIMS, Union Health Minister and AIIMS president Anbumani Ramadoss visited the Institute on Wednesday morning. He went round the wards and enquired about the condition of medical students and resident doctors from AIIMS being treated for dengue. The Minister interacted with the AIIMS Director and senior faculty and enquired about the availability of blood and medicines. Dr. Ramadoss also enquired about the Institute's preparedness to manage chikungunya cases.

According to figures released by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, of the 1,101 cases registered in the Capital, 709 are from the city, while the remaining 392 are from other States. Also, 636 are from the MCD area and 25 from the NDMC (New Delhi Municipal Council) area.

The Song and Drama Division of the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has deployed its artistes and registered parties to hold a five-day "Public Awareness Programme" here on dengue and chikungunya. The programme will focus on cleanliness, measures to stop mosquito breeding, protection from mosquito bites and medical consultation. The programme will be held in coordination with the Delhi Health Department from Wednesday to Sunday.

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