Another diphtheria death reported from north Delhi

NEWDELHI: One more diphtheria death has been reported from Maharishi Valmiki Infectious Diseases Hospital (MVIDH) in north Delhi, taking the toll in the city this season to 25, north corporation officials said on Saturday.

The MVID hospital is run by North Delhi Municipal Corporation (North DMC).

“Till Saturday morning, the number of deaths due to diphtheria in Delhi reached 25 out of which only five patients belong to Delhi while the rest was from other states,” a north corporation spokesperson said.

He said that 24 deaths were reported at MVID hospital while an earlier death had been reported at the Delhi government-run LNJP Hospital.

“Over 300 cases have been reported so far this year. From September 6, 192 diphtheria patients have been admitted at the municipal hospital, out of which 21 are from Delhi and 171 for other states, especially from western Uttar Pradesh,” he said.

North Delhi Mayor Adesh Gupta had on Tuesday suspended the medical superintendent of the MVID hospital for alleged lapses in connection with the deaths of children at the facility.

Gupta had set up a panel a few days ago to look into the deaths and sought a report, which is yet to be submitted.

Diphtheria is preventable as the government provides the vaccine for free under its universal i mmunisation programme.

Three doses at 1.5 months, 2.5 months and 3.5 months are to be given and a booster shot at 1.5 years to prevent catching the infection.

North corporation officials said that last year, 120 cases were reported in the month of September, out of 550 cases during the entire year. Seventy people had succumbed to the disease, of which 15 had died in September 2017.

THE LATEST DEATH TAKES THE TOLL IN THE CAPITAL THIS SEASON TO 25, OFFICIALS SAID