Patna records 351 dengue cases, maximum in a day this year

PATNA: Patna district registered its highest single-day spike of dengue cases as 351 more people were diagnosed with the disease in the last 24 hours, as per the daily bulletin issued by the state health department.
With fresh cases, this year's tally of dengue cases in the district crossed the 3,100-mark on Wednesday, from 2,756 cases the previous day.
Altogether 419 persons found infected with dengue in Bihar on Wednesday, taking the total cases up to 3,987 in the state since January this year. Apart from Patna, Nalanda reported 18 cases, East Champaran 12, Nawada 9, Siwan 5, Aurangabad 4, Muzaffarpur 3 and Begusarai, Gaya, Gopalganj and Vaishali 2 each while one case each was reported from Darbhanga, Jehanabad, Lakhisarai, Purnia, Saran, Sheikhpura and Sheohar.
The dengue cases in Patna has increased almost 188.7% in less than a couple of weeks, from 1,076 cases in September-end to 3,107 cases on Wednesday. The number of hospitalized patients is also increasing, as the city is feeling the sting of the vector-borne disease, leaving the health department on its toes.
The total admissions in government hospitals have increased to 58 from 48 as 10 more dengue patients went to hospitals for treatment during the last 24 hours.
At Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH)-Patna, the occupancy of dengue patients has increased to 23 with five more admissions on Wednesday. Dr Mukul Kumar Singh, an epidemiologist, said of the 131 ELISA tests conducted in the last 24 hours, 52 were tested positive for dengue.
The admissions of dengue patients are also rising at the private hospitals in Patna. Dr Satyajit Kumar Singh, managing director of a noted private hospital in Pataliputra Colony, said out of the 310 patients admitted there, 40 were suffering from dengue.
"The rise in admission of dengue patients has been witnessed in the last 15 days. Every day, at least 10 new patients are coming to the hospital," he told TOI on Wednesday.
Dr Talat Halim, regional director (east) at another big private hospital on Bailey Road, said the total number of dengue patients admitted there had reached to 48 with five more admitted on Wednesday.
"So far, two co-morbid patients suffering from dengue have died in the last 15-16 days, including one from Sheikhpura in Patna and another from Khagaria," he said.