With the spectre of vector-borne diseases looming large in the city, the number of dengue cases has climbed to a staggering 945, in which 249 fresh cases have been registered till August 26. Apart from dengue threatening to escalate in Delhi While with 79 fresh cases of malaria and 58 cases of chikungunya is also reported during this month, taking the total tally to 516 and 339 respectively, as per the report released by the three municipal corporations of Delhi on Monday.
However, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) official said they have already taken measures to prevent the menace. "Apart from checking breeding and taking appropriate action, the SDMC has also adopted preventive measures to bring the menace under control," he added. "Top officers of the Public Health Department were also instructed to take more serious actions to keep the breeding in check," he said.
A death has already been recorded due to dengue hemorrhagic fever on August 1 this month.
Meanwhile, majority of people claimed that DBC workers have not visited to check breeding. Many among them have never seen fogging in their areas. The state of confusion prevails among citizen regarding whom and how should approach the authority for number of civic issues.
SDMC, however in its bid to combat the menace had already launched a new technologically advanced application called Vector-borne disease control (VBDC) to cover 16 vulnerable wards identified on the basis of substantial breeding data localities.
At least 15 fatalities were reported last year at various hospitals in the city due to complications triggered by chikungunya, though the civic bodies have kept the death tally at zero.
At least 21 deaths due to dengue were reported last year at various hospitals, including nine at AIIMS, though the official tally of the civic bodies stood at 10. Seventeen deaths suspected to be due to malaria in 2016 were also reported by the civic bodies.
In one of the worst outbreaks, a total of 12,221 chikungunya cases were reported in Delhi till December 24, 2016, out of which 9,749 were confirmed.
Though the season of vector-borne diseases had ended in December, the city continues to report such cases, prompting authorities to prepare a roadmap for the combat plan. The season for the vector-borne diseases begins from mid-July and generally lasts until November.