29 fresh cases of dengue in Delhi, figure well past 500

NEW DELHI: The dengue menace continued unabated in the national capital with 29 more cases being reported today, taking the total number of patients to 527.

Civic authorities said they will launch a special drive next week to check breeding of mosquitoes. "Already, penal action has been taken against more than 200 people this week for high breeding in their premises," Municipal Health Officer, MCD, N K Yadav told PTI.

With this, prosecution action was initiated against 5,166 people so far this year, he said.

"Twenty-nine more patients have tested positive for dengue since last evening, taking the number of cases this season to 527," Yadav said.

Delhi has seen a surge in the number of dengue cases in the last 10 days when over 20 to 23 cases per day on an average were registered. Two persons have died due to the disease so far.

Nearly 100 new cases of the disease have been reported in the city in the last four days.

Besides AIIMS, most of the dengue patients are under treatment at Fortis, Ganga Ram, LNJP and Apollo Hospitals.

Asked about the overcrowding in hospitals due to the spurt in dengue cases, Yadav said, "most of the people who are coming to hospitals are suspected patients. In this time of the season, viral fever is also quite common. But due to panic, people are getting themselves admitted."

Last year, 1,070 dengue cases and two deaths were reported in the city.