13 people suffering from chikungunya have died so far in Delhi.
There is an increase in the number of chikungunya cases in Delhi, but doctors say there is no need to panic as almost all patients recover from this debilitating disease. The deaths that have been reported due to chikungunya in Delhi are mostly due to other illnesses that the persons had contracted, doctors said.
Chikungunya is transmitted due to a bite from the tiger mosquito and the virus causes the infection and pain in the joints. For the first time, deaths have been reported due to chikungunya, but they are really due to this viral infection, say doctors.
Dr MC Misra, Director, All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, told NDTV, "There is no cause for panic due to chikungunya. It is a milder virus, there is no mutation; deaths that have been reported might not be only because of chikungunya. It might be more related to other illnesses. Do not panic and think that everybody who gets chikungunya is going to die."
Mahendra Tyagi, an 80-year-old patient, died after being tested positive for chikungunya but his doctors say he also had pneumonia in both lungs. Three other patients who died of chikungunya had other diseases like kidney damage, uncontrolled diabetes and asthma. Pain from chikungunya can persist for weeks and even months but it is rarely fatal, confirms the World Health Organisation or WHO.
13 people suffering from chikungunya have died so far in Delhi.