D for Delhi, D for Dengue

All my love for Delhi fades away as I read and hear about Dengue fever spreading in Delhi. With Indian government’s bureaucracy at its best, it’s difficult to do control anything Delhi. Lack of control of Traffic does not worry you as much as lack of control on growth of Mosquitoes. Delhi has had a number of open drains, but those were supposedly covered in 1998-99 when Dengue had first hit Delhi. With most of the drains (officially) covered and country’s hospitals at their best (acc to various reports), Dept of Health had little to offer as an explanation to spreading of Dengue in the capital city. So with nothing else to do, they conveniently started blaming the Delhi Government and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for their casualness.


Everyone was busy celebrating Navratri till the news of 8 dead and 500 affected came out. It was not surprising to know that the worst affected area was AIIMS hospital and hostel, the best medical college and government run institute in India. Dengue was not there because the mosquitoes preferred being there, it spread there to remind people of hygiene and alertness. When the first patient suspected of Dengue arrived in the hospital, he must have spitted out, coughed and touched few things around him. Doctors, (un)aware of the fact that Dengue is a communicable disease, attended to him, and informed everyone that there is nothing to worry and everything in control. Little did s/he realise that when s/he goes back to the hostel, Dengue goes with him. And thus the saga continued.

Of what I fail to appreciate is the cleanliness of AIIMS. I have never been required to be there, nor will choose it as a hospital even if I was dyeing. But of what I hear from people and see it on television, it is a quite filthy place to be. Hygiene and cleanliness does not cost as much money as treatment of Dengue does. On one hand where separate Malaria Control bodies are established, no department from Delhi or Central government takes the onus for Dengue blunder. With 25-35 cases being reported everyday, it is quite natural to expect a Delhi Dengue milestone in history as London Plague was. Unlike London, fire is not needed to eradicate lethal mosquitoes, only public awareness and proper sanitation is required.