Chikungunya outbreak in Delhi: 4 deaths in 24 hours; toll rises to 5

On Monday, a 65-year-old man from Ghaziabad has succumbed to chikungunya at Ganga Ram Hospital, becoming the first victim of vector-borne disease in the national capital.

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Five people have succumbed to chikungunya in the national capital this year. On Tuesday, a  75-year-old man from Mathura in Uttar Pradesh became the fifth victim to succumb to the health complications caused by chikungunya at Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi.

On Monday, three new deaths due to chikungunya were reported in the city's Ganga Ram Hospital. The three men, who died were over 60 years age, authorities said.

According to the hospital, R. Pandey, 65, admitted to Ganga Ram Hospital on September 11 from Ghaziabad-based Yashodhara Hospital, died on Monday morning. 

Another patient to succumb was 61-year-old Uday Shankar, who died in the afternoon.

The third death due to chikungunya complications was of 62-year old Ashok Chauhan.

A 30 year-old man, who tested positive for chikungunya, died at AIIMS on September 9.

As per a municipal report released Monday, at least 1,057 cases of this chikungunya have been recorded till September 10, a jump of nearly 90% from its count last week.

At least 1,158 dengue cases have been reported in Delhi with nearly 390 of them being recorded in the first ten days of September, which is a 50% rise from previous count.

This season, at least nine deaths have been reported in the national capital due to dengue.

Besides, two people had died of malaria this season and at least 21 people in Delhi have been diagnosed with the vector-borne disease.

Meanwhile, hospitals, both public and private are said to be running out of beds and manpower even as cases of dengue and chikungunya continue to be swamped by patients affected by dengue and chikungunya. Among those affected by the mosquito-borne diseases are a number of doctors of both central and Delhi government hospitals, leading to a staff crunch in many departments.

Experts warned of more cases in the coming months as September and October are considered the peak season for the spread of vector-borne diseases, including malaria.