Eight More Dengue Deaths Reported in Delhi, Official Toll Rises to 25

Nearly 2,200 fresh cases of dengue have been reported in the past one week even as hospitals in Delhi continue to be flooded with patients hit by the mosquito-borne disease. The death toll due to dengue has risen to 25 after eight more people succumbed to this vector-borne disease. The latest victims include three males and five females, including a seven-month-old girl. The municipal authorities said, "The male victims are of 64 years, 21 and 60 years of age, while the female victims are 7 months old, a 7-year-old girl, and women of age 32, 40 and 70."

Following a spurt in the number of dengue cases in the national capital, health stakeholders, including top officials of the Delhi health department, researchers and laboratories, met to discuss new initiatives to control the menace.

Until now, the national capital and its adjoining areas have recorded a total of 5,968 dengue cases. The unofficial number of deaths, confirmed by Delhi hospitals, has crossed 80. Officials said, "The number of affected people this year is set to overtake the total figure for 2010, when 6,259 cases were reported."

Source-IANS