Dengue Fever Continues To Spread In India

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Main Category: Tropical Diseases
Also Included In: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses;  Public Health
Article Date: 06 Oct 2006 - 10:00 PDT

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So far, authorities in India are calling the spread of Dengue Fever an outbreak, not an epidemic. The country's Health Minister, Anubani Ramadoss, announced today that there have been 38 confirmed deaths so far. As the number of infected people swells, hospitals are struggling to cope. Official figures place the number of infected people at 2,900.

The brunt of the current outbreak is taking place in northern India. Two of the Prime Minister's grandsons, and one son-in-law, are in hospital with reported dengue like symptoms in New Delhi. Initial tests have indicate they do have dengue fever. A spokesperson for the All India Institute of Medical Sciences said the three patients are 'stable'.

New Delhi has reported 70 new cases of dengue fever, bringing the total number of cases in the city to 743.

Four people in Southern India have died of chikungunya - a rare mosquito-borne viral fever. In Kerala alone 75 people have died of chikungunya.

Both the PDF files below are from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India:

-- Information on Dengue Fever (English) PDF
-- Information on Dengue Fever (Hindi) PDF

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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