NEW DELHI: Hospitals in the national capital are bursting at the seams, as a large number of people are visiting vector-borne fever clinics daily, with AIIMS itself confirming nearly 200 blood test samples for chikungunya per week.
From mohalla clinics to private hospitals, many adults and children have been flocking to these with complaints of high fever, joint pain and rashes, as the city continued to grapple with the twin menace of chikungunya and dengue.
"Chikungunya cases are rising steadily. If we had to say as to why is it happening, that would be purely speculative, but at AIIMS we are confirming nearly 200 blood test samples for chikungunya cases every week," a senior doctor at AIIMS told PTI today.
According to a municipal report, 432 chikungunya cases have been diagnosed in the national capital this year till August 27.
However, experts said the number could be actually much higher.
Meanwhile, 487 cases of dengue have so far been reported in the national capital this season, with 368 of them being recorded in August.
Till August 20, 311 cases of the vector-borne disease were reported while 176 cases came to light in the last week alone, marking a rise of nearly 57 per cent.
Safdarjung Hospital has reported nearly 250 chikungunya cases and 263 dengue cases till August 29.
"OPD (Out Patient Pepartment) is filled with patients. Besides, many of our technicians and doctors themselves are down with the vector-borne fever, affecting the services," Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr A K Rai said.
Dr Vikram Bhaskar at Kalawati Saran Children's Hospital under the Lady Hardinge Medical College, said, "In our hospital, OPD gets about 1,000 people daily and 20-25 suspected chikungunya cases are being reported every day while there are 10-15 dengue cases. Of course, these are child patients, but in the LHMC general ward several adult cases are being reported."
The Centre and the Delhi government have appealed to the people not to panic, saying chikungunya is not life- threatening, and also advised them to take measures to prevent mosquito-breeding in and around their households.
Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain has said, "We have 10,000 beds and the number of fever clinics has been increased from 55 last year to 355. People should not panic."
With the death of an 18-year-old boy on Sunday of dengue at Apollo Hospital in south Delhi, the toll has gone upto five due to dengue.