NEW DELHI—The toll from dengue in New Delhi climbed to 11 on Tuesday as one more death -- of a 29-year old woman -- was reported due to the vector-borne disease that has caused a widespread scare in the national capital.
According to authorities at Lok Nayak hospital, the woman, a resident of north-west Delhi, had come to the hospital last evening and succumbed within a few minutes even as she was being attended to.
"The woman came gasping to the hospital. She carried a report from Ardent Ganpati hospital as per which she had tested positive for dengue.
"She apparently was suffering from Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS) and passed away within a few minutes while she was being attended to. As per her records, she had been ill for the last five days," said Dr Yogesh Kumar Sarin, medical superintendent at the hospital.
Meanwhile, private hospitals and nursing homes in Delhi have been summoned for a meeting with Health Minister Satyender Jain this evening amid mounting anger over the deaths of two children who were allegedly refused treatment for dengue.
Two more persons at the hospital -- a 22-yr-old and a 18-yr-old man -- had succumbed to dengue on 3 September and 1 September, respectively. But these patients, Sarin said, had co-morbid conditions too.
"The two patients had dengue, but they also had co-morbid conditions. So, when we informed the civic body, they did not record them as dengue deaths," said Dr Sarin.
As per the latest civic body data released on Monday, 613 cases of dengue have been reported in the last one week and a total 1,872 patients have tested positive for the disease till 12 September.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today made surprise checks in hospitals amid allegations that patients are being turned away.
"It is heartbreaking. We have become blind in the race to make more and more profit," Kejriwal told reporters.
The death toll as per the municipal corporation's official data still stands at five.
Last week, seven-year-old Avinash Rout had died of dengue after being denied admission by five hospitals. The death of their child had driven Avinash's parents to commit suicide.
(With inputs from PTI)
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