ASIA/INDIA - DENGUE INFECTS INDIA’S CAPITAL AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY: MORE THAN 1.700 TAKEN ILL AND 83 HAVE DIED

New Delhi (Fides Service) - In the Indian capital New Delhi more than 1.700 people are ill with mosquito-borne Dengue fever (break bone) a viral disease which is spreading as insects breed on pools of water left over from plentiful monsoon rains.
According to Associated Press news agency official estimates say that 5.000 have been infected across the country and 83 have died of dengue. Instructions have been given to spray major government establishments, private offices and neighbourhood residents associations. Health experts say poor sanitation and overpopulation have contributed to the spread of the disease in New Delhi and pools of standing water for the Summer’s extra-heavy rains have formed mosquito breeding grounds. The number of Dengue cases has dropped after a mass media campaign but some 100 new cases are still be reported each day, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi said. New Delhi’s chief secretary told government blood transfusion centres to ensure the availability of blood for Dengue patients. Dengue fever is common in tropical areas and is endemic to parts of Asia and the Caribbean. The World Health Organisation has estimated that the disease infects nearly 100 million people world-wide each year. About 5 percent die. Symptoms of the disease include fever and internal bleeding. In severe cases some patients suffer bleeding from their internal organs and need blood transfusions. Some die of shock or heart failure. SL (Fides Service 24/10/2003 EM lines 17 Words: 230)