New Delhi, Sep 15 (IANS): With the number of dengue cases surging in the capital, the Delhi government on Monday cancelled the leaves of doctors and paramedical staff at all its hospitals.

"The government issued a circular today (Monday) that the leaves of all the staff including doctors and paramedics of all Delhi government hospitals will stand cancelled till the dengue season is over," Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain told IANS.

The move comes in the wake of hospitals struggling with manpower to deal with the rush of dengue patients.

Jain said the health department received requests from many hospitals for the need of extra doctors and paramedical staff to tackle dengue patients.

"In view of the necessity of doctors at the hospitals, we issued the circular regarding cancellation of leaves till the end of the dengue season," Jain said.

Puneeta Mahajan, medical superintendent of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Hospital, said: "We have issued an internal circular regarding cancellation of planned leaves of the doctors and paramedics during dengue season."

She said it was a routine practice followed every year.

A circular issued by Hindu Rao Hospital read: "In view of an exigency due to dengue outbreak, all leaves stand cancelled till the present situation improves."