A team deputed by the Government of India arrived here on Saturday to take stock of medical intervention and systemic medical apparatus engaged in the treatment of dengue.
Speaking briefly on the sidelines of a review meeting earlier in the day, Manisha Bais Thakur, Senior Physician, Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, said that the team was deputed to assess the situation and gauge the preventive measures and medical apparatus in place to deal with dengue outbreak. It would be premature to comment on the visit, until its conclusion, and a report would be submitted to the Centre.
Earlier in the day, touring paediatric wards, adult wards, fever clinics and test labs of the Government Headquarters Hospital here, the team sought charts on the dengue-fever correlation, and ratio of positive testing of samples undertaken since August.
The medical administration under Joint Director Gurunathan came under appreciation for the systemic arrangements made to deal with fever cases and the maintenance of beds with mosquito nets for in-patients.
In a brief presentation during the course of the hospital tour, the Joint Director outlined the logistical support and a slew of upgrades that were made at the Government Headquarters hospital to deal with the cases. The essentially 20-bedded paediatric ward was upgraded to accommodate over 150 cases, and facilities had since been augmented to sustain medical management of dengue.
Earlier, as a precursor to the tour, the team was shown a presentation on a slew of components that included comparative larval indices, entomological surveillance and mapping of geographical areas from the epicentre to chalk out the trajectory of outbreak of fever cases.
According to the presentation, the mortality rate and the referral mortality rates were within acceptable limits. . There have been approximately 30,000 outpatient fever cases (all types of fever), and 3,000 inpatient fever cases over the last few months, an official source told The Hindu .
However, there have been conflicting and stark variations between official figures projected and media reportage as far as dengue-related deaths were concerned.
The team is slated to visit areas and habitations seen as the epicentre of the virus, and other government hospitals during the course of its tour. It is scheduled to visit other districts from Monday.
