As the monsoons are nearing, the health ministry has asked all centre-run hospitals to set up dengue corners, dedicated areas to provide treatment to dengue patients, as part of the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) guidelines. The Dengue Corners will have selected staff which will provide the healthcare facilities to dengue patients.

Dr. Ashutosh Biswas, a professor of medicine at the AIIMS, said, that the aim of setting up these dengue corners is to provide continuous and efficient healthcare service to the patients during surge in dengue occurrence. These instructions are part of the guidelines of the NVBDCP.

AIIMS Director Dr. Randeep Guleria said that with no specific drug and vaccine currently available in the country to cure dengue, a good supportive treatment accompanied with early diagnosis can help in the treatment of this mosquito born viral disease.

The India Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is conducting research on the safety and efficacy of the vaccine on the Indian population, according to Dr. Guleria. He also said that the problem with the vaccine is that it can be effective if given to a person who previously was infected with dengue. If it is given to a person who had never suffered from dengue, can create complications and also cause harm, which is the reason, why the vaccine has been withdrawn after being introduced in several countries.

According to Dr. Biswas, the mortality rate at the AIIMS is high because all the serious cases are referred to the hospital. The mortality rate in dengue is around 7% at AIIMS. It is less than 2% across India. AIIMS is also providing training to its resident doctors, para-medical staff and nurses on dengue management. A special ward for dengue patients is also set up if there is a surge in cases.

Dengue is caused by Aedes aegypti mosquito, which breeds in clear water. Dr. Biswas said that dengue symptoms range from common self-limiting ailment to complicated cases where patients are required to be admitted in the hospital.

Dr. Biswas had advised people to take precautions to ensure that there is no breeding of mosquito larvae around them and insisted them to wear full-sleeves and use mosquito nets. Water coolers should be dried up when not in use as dengue infection-carrying mosquitoes breed a lot in them.

Dr. Biswas also informed that the AIIMS has set up a Disease Prevention Outbreak Cell to be alert about the outbreak of such vector borne diseases in the campus.