NEW DELHI, Oct 2: The New Delhi government was expected on Tuesday to declare that dengue fever has reached epidemic proportions in the Indian capital where infection is rife, even in the nation’s top hospital.

Eleven people have died from the mosquito-born virus in the past fortnight and 450 have come down with the disease this year, compared to 217 by the same time in 2005, according to the municipal authorities.

Over 120 people were infected with “brain fever” in New Delhi in the last week, The Hindustan Times paper said.

If an epidemic is declared more stringent measures will be put in place, including jail or fines for anyone breaching public health directives.

As many as 35 people, including 18 medical staff, caught the disease at the country’s premier public hospital, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, The Times of India said.—AFP