Delhi is battling its worst dengue crisis in five years
In less than a week, two children in Delhi have died, allegedly because hospitals turned them away during a lethal outbreak of dengue fever. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal made surprise inspections of state-run hospitals today.
Here are the 10 latest developments:
The Delhi government is threatening to cancel the licences of private hospitals if they are found guilty of refusing to treat Aman Sharma, 6, and Avinash Rout, 7. After his death last week, Avinash's parents committed suicide, provoking a national outcry.
The worst outbreak in five years of the mosquito-borne disease, for which no vaccine exists, has exposed inadequate public health measures to combat it and overwhelmed both government and private hospitals.
"It is heartbreaking," said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today. "We have become blind in the race to make more and more profit. We shouldn't forget our humanity."
Authorities have ordered surprise inspections at private hospitals to ensure they comply with last month's order not to turn away dengue patients. Doctors' leave has been cancelled to help cope with the influx of sick people.
1,000 extra beds have to be made available in state-run hospitals to treat dengue patients, the government has said.
Children must report to school in clothes that fully cover their arms and legs for the next month to avoid mosquito bites, the government said today. Uniforms will not be mandatory during this period.
Avinash Rout's medical reports showed he was referred to five prominent private hospitals in the capital. The 7-year-old was eventually admitted to another private hospital, but died soon after. His parents jumped from a four-storey building in South Delhi; their suicide note talked of the loss of their only child.
More than 1,800 dengue cases have been recorded in the city this year - the highest number since 2010, when more than 6,000 were reported.
In the past, Delhi's private hospitals have been accused of refusing free treatment to poor patients - a condition they must agree to, in return for getting land at cheap rates.
Dengue cases generally peak in October, after the end of the monsoon rains. Symptoms include a sudden fever, headache, muscle and joint pains. The disease is also known as "break-bone fever" for the intense pain victims can suffer.
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