One more dengue death, 50 fresh cases in Delhi

New Delhi -- One more person died of dengue in the capital, taking the death toll to 15 even as over 50 fresh cases of the mosquito-borne virus was reported Thursday.

Dharam Singh, 20, of Badarpur in south Delhi was the latest dengue victim. He died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at 7 a.m. Thursday. He was admitted to the special dengue ward of AIIMS early in the morning with high fever, but died later.

"Singh was admitted to the hospital in a serious condition at 5 a.m., but he succumbed to the fever," said Shakti Gupta, chief spokesman of AIIMS.

Of the 50 fresh cases reported, 34 are in AIIMS. The total number of dengue-affected in the capital has now crossed 635. At AIIMS, the total number of cases has gone up to 195 so far.

At least 40 people have died across the country of dengue so far and over 2,700 infected, with Delhi the worst hit.

According to P.L. Joshi, director of the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, last year 157 people had died and 11,985 were affected by dengue.

"Of the 195 confirmed cases, 191 were reported since August. Currently 99 cases of dengue are undergoing treatment at our hospital," D.K. Sharma, medical superintendent AIIMS, told IANS.

"Five patients were discharged since Wednesday. Two people have died during the period," Sharma said.

Rahmat Ali, a resident of Hauz Rani in south Delhi, died late Wednesday at AIIMS.

According to health officials, the number of those affected by the mosquito-borne disease could go up further as the data compilation of all hospitals in the city had yet to be completed.

Two grandsons of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh - Rohan (11) and Madhav (17) - are being treated at AIIMS for "suspected" dengue symptoms. Singh's eldest son-in-law Vijay Tankha, a professor at St. Stephens College here, has also been admitted to the hospital for similar symptoms.

Doctors at AIIMS said the prime minister's family members were recovering well.

"We are conducting blood tests every six hours. We suspect dengue. But the final results will be known only Friday evening," said a doctor.

Among the 15 dead is a seventh semester student of AIIMS who died on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss will hold a review meeting of the health ministers of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan states later Thursday.