76 more dengue cases in Delhi

NEW DELHI - Delhi reported 76 more cases of dengue Tuesday, taking the total number of people infected with the mosquito-borne disease to 1,933, officials said.

As many as five people, including one from outside Delhi, have died due to dengue this year in the capital, said an official of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

With the city reporting around 70 new cases on a daily basis, the medical institutions are working overtime to cope with the disease.

The situation is particularly bad in government hospitals where beds are being joined together so that more patients can be accommodated.

According to the MCD, the number of dengue cases this year will cross the 2006 figure of 3,366 cases. Many are also complaining of a shortfall in blood platelet supply.

Dengue symptoms include high fever for four to five days, usually accompanied by severe headache, pain in the eyes, muscle and joint pain and rashes. Once the fever goes down, the blood platelet count starts dipping.