In the wake of two deaths by dengue reportedly in the national Capital including a 54-year-old patient who died at Lok Nayak Hospital and another at Safdarjung Hospital, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has intensified efforts to combat the spread of vector borne diseases including spraying and fogging of more than 4.20 lakh houses with insecticides.

The two deaths due to dengue include a 54-year-old patient who died at Lok Nayak Hospital and another at Safdarjung Hospital. According to data by the MCD, a total of 675 cases of dengue have been reported this year till September 10. A total of 967 cases of vector borne diseases including 260 cases of malaria and 32 cases of chikungunya have been reported in the same period.

The maximum numbers of dengue cases were witnessed in the Najafgarh zone with 103 cases, followed by Shahdara North zone with 84 cases, South zone with 71 cases, Central zone with 67 cases, Karol Bagh zone with 60 cases, Rohini zone with 56 cases, Shahdara South zone with 50 cases, West zone with 45 cases, Narela zone with 42 cases, Civil Lines zone with 40 cases, and City SP zone with 33 cases. The lowest was reported from Keshav Puram zone with 24 cases.

Amid a surge in cases of the vector-borne disease at several city hospitals in Delhi, the civic body is taking a multi-pronged approach with the officials visiting over 2.59 crore households, with 1,56,932 found to be breeding mosquito sites. “Breeding sites are destroyed on the spot, and homeowners are educated on health and hygiene practices,” a senior MCD official said.

He added that drains, water bodies, and surface water collections are sprayed weekly using manual and motorised sprayers and larvi-vorous fishes have been introduced at 213 locations in clean water collections.

“23 special drives have been conducted to cover vulnerable areas such as police stations, construction sites, parks, hospitals, schools, Government offices, and DTC depots,” he added. Additionally, MCD has also conducted special fogging operations in Kavad camps, Krishna Janmashtmi pandals, temples, and Lal Quila. The civic body also mentioned that low lying areas along railway tracks are being sprayed by power spray tankers mounted on railway wagons.

Chaired by the MCD’s Mayor Shelly Oberoi and Commissioner Ashwani Kumar, the civic body has conducted 28 Inter-Sectoral Coordination Committee meetings under the chairmanship of the Mayor and Commissioner at headquarters and zonal levels, involving major stakeholders such as Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Delhi Jal Board (DJB), Delhi Police, Public Works Department (PWD), Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Horticulture, Archaelogical Survey of India (ASI), Education, and Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) departments to ensure effective coordination and implementation of control measures.

“Nodal Teachers of all schools have been trained for prevention of mosquito breeding in schools. Fogging and focal spray operations will be conducted at public gatherings and religious festivals to control adult mosquito populations,” he said, adding that outdoor fogging operations will be intensified in September-October, depending on mosquito density and disease situation and legal notices, challans, and administrative charges will be levied on repeated offenders.

“97,397 legal notices, 32,384 challans, and 7,929 administrative charges have been levied under the provision of Malaria and other Vector Borne Diseases Bye-Laws under DMC Act. Police complaints will also be lodged against defaulters allowing repeated mosquito breeding,” he said.