New Delhi, Oct 24: Concerned over reports of a mysterious disease in Delhi, the Central and state governments today came together to say there was no such disease in the capital and that steps were being taken to control the dengue outbreak. "We both want to say that there is no need to worry and panic. We are prepared to handle the situation," Union Health Minister Sushma Swaraj told reporters at a joint press conefrence with Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit and Delhi's Health Minister A K Walia.

Earlier, the three held a meeting with Central and state health officials on the issue. "Delhi doesn't have any mysterious disease and all the cases related to the outbreak are of dengue," she said adding tests for dengue are likely to be negative if blood is taken within five days of the appearance of symptoms.

Swaraj said NICD had tested six people who had initially tested negative and found them to be positive for dengue antibodies.

On a question on the politicisation of the issue, Swaraj said, "Panic and blame game are two different things. There can be no politics at the cost of public health." Diskhit said, "Both of us think that the issue should not be politicised. The people concerned should not blame each other."

Bureau Report