Bites back as dengue concerns reach fever pitch

Though the rain gods have not been too generous in the national Capital this year, the few showers that the city saw this month was enough to set the dengue mosquito into breeding mode. In only a few weeks time the total number of dengue cases in Delhi has reached near 100, with an increase of 30 per cent in the last week alone.

According to the data issued by the Delhi Municipal Corporation on Monday, a total of 98 cases had been reported in Delhi till September 27, while the figure stood at 75 till September 20. However, while the North Corporation reported the maximum cases until two weeks back, the South seems to have suddenly had a rush of cases being reported. Almost 39 cases have been reported from South while North reported 18 and East reported 13.

Meanwhile, 15 cases were reported from regions in Delhi outside the jurisdiction of the three municipal corporations and 13 from neighbouring States, the report said. Over 5,500 dengue cases and six deaths were registered in the Capital last year, according to SDMC, which compiles report for vector-borne diseases in the city.

According to a recent report released by North Delhi Municipal Corporation, dengue mosquitoes have been found breeding at various institutions this year, including six cases reported at lok Nayak Hospital and three at the headquarters of North Delhi Municipal Corporation itself. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Delhi Technical University and DTC depot are among several institutions in the Capital to be penalised for failing to check breeding of dengue mosquitoes on their premises.

Delhi witnessed a large number of dengue cases in 2010, with over 6,200 cases. In 2009, 1,153 cases were registered, over 1,300 cases in 2008, 1,131 cases in 2011 and 2,093 cases in 2012. The decline in the number of cases this year has been attributed to delayed rains and preventive drive undertaken by the civic bodies much before the onset of monsoon.

Civic bodies are continuing with preventive measures like fumigation, checking of breeding areas and awareness campaigns to control dengue menace. According to the report, 1,33,728 households were found positive for mosquito breeding, while legal notices were served to over 97,340 for mosquitogenic conditions.

Over 10,152 prosecutions were also launched during the same period. As far as malaria is concerned, 53 cases of malaria have also been recorded in the city till September 27, with 22 of them being reported in September alone.