Dengue Fever Outbreak in India

The capital of India is facing a serious outbreak of dengue fever.

Health officials in New Delhi have said the outbreak of the disease is the worst in five years.  They are also putting steps in place to make sure all patients can receive treatment after two children died when hospitals turned them away.

The government said they will be stripping the license of any private hospital that refuses to treat a dengue fever victim.  Also, the government has restricted the cost of tests for the disease to $9 after some private labs were charging more than four times that amount.

The death of one of the boys lead to the suicide of their parent.  The note left behind cited the child’s death and said five private hospitals turned the family away before he was finally admitted at a sixth for treatment, but by then it was too late.

The government confirmed death toll from the disease since the outbreak began has reached 11.  Over 1800 cases have been confirmed by health officials.

The country is experiencing the rainy season and most cases of Dengue Fever happen near the end and in the months right after the rainy season.