New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry Wednesday said that it expects to learn within a week the precise identity of the dengue virus subtype which is reportedly circulating in Delhi and has affected 831 people.
The process of identifying the subtype is underway at AIIMS and the result is expected within a week, an official statement said.
Asserting that it is "geared up" to tackle the spurt in dengue cases, the Ministry has also written a letter to Urban Development department urging the latter to allow access to several unoccupied buildings and rooftops to check breeding.
"All four serotypes (1, 2, 3 and 4) of dengue were isolated from time to time from various states. The report of serotypes presently circulating in Delhi is awaited. The process of identification is underway at AIIMS and the result is expected within a week," an official statement quoting union health secretary B P Sharma said.
As per South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), till August 29, at least 831 persons were diagnosed with dengue in the national capital. Two casualties have been officially reported due to the vector-borne disease while another death has been designated by the municipal bodies as a suspected dengue case.
"Secretary has also written to secretary (Urban Development) to allow access to several unoccupied buildings and rooftops of buildings for checking breeding.
"He has also urged CPWD to undertake special measures for vector control in construction sites, basements, roof-tops and unused flats and buildings," the official statement said.
Sharma said that Health Minister J P Nadda has been personally reviewing the status of dengue in the country.
In addition several meetings with municipal bodies, Delhi government officials, Delhi cantonment board and officials of central government hospitals in Delhi has already taken place to review the situation and preparedness.
"In 2015, though more cases have been reported than 2014 till August 31, deaths have been comparatively less. Also due to intermittent monsoon, dengue vector breeding is rampant in both residential and non-residential areas," Sharma said.
Out of the total 831 cases in Delhi, North Delhi has recorded the highest at 352 and South Delhi 220 while East Delhi posted the lowest with 73 dengue cases. 115 cases were reported from areas outside the jurisdiction of the three municipal corporations.
Out of the total dengue cases diagnosed in Delhi, 30 persons hailed from Uttar Pradesh and eight from Haryana, while 33 were from other states.
The statement said that breeding surveillance of all central government hospital premises is being carried out to ensure that they are free of any vector breeding.
Adequate stocks of NS1 and IgM testing kits to detect cases of dengue are available with 514 sentinel surveillance hospitals and apex referral labs, it said.
Sharma has also asked the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), Delhi government and the municipal corporations to coordinate their Information Education and Communication (IEC) activities.
"Ministry's central teams have visited high endemic states which have reported large number of cases to provide technical guidance to combat the situation.
"The Ministry has also undertaken intensive targeted multi-media IEC activities to create mass awareness among the communities for prevention and control of dengue," the statement said.
