Panic has gripped Delhi and NCR after reports of a sudden spurt in the number of chikungunya and dengue cases in the region this month. A report released by civic authorities on Monday showed unprecedented increase in cases of vector-borne diseases. Chikungunya cases in Delhi have shot up to 423 from just 20 cases reported till last week and 368 dengue cases were recorded in August alone taking the total to 487.
A senior official of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation, which compiles vector-borne disease case reports on behalf of all the civic bodies in Delhi, said 311 cases of dengue were reported till August 20, while 176 cases came to light in last week alone, marking a rise of nearly 57 per cent.
According to doctors, the numbers could be higher as many cases go unreported. What is even more alarming is that with the latest spell of rain, cases are expected to go up, said doctors.
In the past few days, 200 samples of blood were found positive for chikungunya out of 300 blood samples at AIIMS labs. In the past one week, cases recorded at Safdarjung Hospital for chikungunya was 246, whereas for dengue it was 262 cases respectively, said Dr AK Rai, Medical Superintendent of Safdarjung Hospital. The last chikungunya outbreak reported in Delhi was in 2006.
Out of 487 dengue cases reported so far, 202 cases were from neighbouring States. Till now, dengue has claimed five lives in the city.
On Sunday, 18-year-old Asad Iqbal, a resident of Shaheen Bagh had succumbed due to dengue at Delhi's Indraprastha Apollo Hospital. Earlier, this month Muskaan, 12, from Shaheen Bagh and Deepak, 19, died due to dengue at Safdarjung Hospital. Also, a 17-year-old patient, suspected to have suffered from dengue, died at the State Government's lok Nayak Hospital. Recently, an AAP MlA’s relative died to due to dengue at Apollo Hospital.
September is the peak time of vector-borne disease, said doctors. However, cases of both diseases transmitted by the same Aedes aegypti mosquito were reported early this year. Health experts are of the view that rains can make the situation worse in the coming days as more mosquito breeding will happen.
According to them, this year the virus of chikungunya is more active but it is not fatal like dengue. Treatment for both the diseases is symptomatic.
Dr SK Sharma, who heads the Internal Medicine department at AIIMS, told The Pioneer, “The rain can cause upsurge in the cases of vector-borne disease in the coming weeks. The changes in climatic condition, sultry weather, poor drainage system, stagnant water at construction sites are some of the causes of mosquito breeding in this season.” There is nothing to panic as chikungunya is not a life-threatening disease like dengue, added Dr Sharma.
Dr lalit Dar, Professor of Microbiology at AIIMS said, "This year chikungunya virus is circulating more. AIIMS laboratory has reported more than 50 percent of cases. Dengue is less this time. Over the years, it has also been seen that once chikungunya traces occur in large numbers, dengue virus starts to decrease."
"This is type-III dengue strains circulating which is not severe and require very few hospitalisation," said Dr Dar.
It may be noted that dengue strains are of four types. Type I causes classic dengue fever, type II leads to haemorrhagic fever with shock, dengue III causes fever without shock and dengue IV causes fever without shock or profound shock.
A patient only suffers from fever, rashes and prolonged joint pain without any major health complication. "Preventive measures are same for the both the vector diseases by not letting the mosquito-genic conditions around their houses," said Dr Dar.
Director (Internal Medicine) of BlK Hospital Dr SK Singal said, "Every day, we see 2-3 dengue cases, but suspected Chinkungunya cases are higher. About 1/3rd of patients in the OPD are chikungunya suspected complaining prolong joint pain."
last year, Delhi witnessed worst dengue outbreak in the past 20 years with 15,000 dengue cases claimed more than 60 lives.