With chikungunya and dengue cases continuing to rise unabated in the national Capital, the vector-borne diseases are taking the shape of an epidemic. According to a municipal report released on Monday, 1,057 cases of chikungunya have been recorded till September 10 from 560 cases last week, marking a jump of nearly 90 per cent.
As many as 387 fresh dengue cases were confirmed, taking total number of patients suffering from vector-borne disease to 1,158, said a municipal official, adding it was over 50 per cent rise from the last week count.
Meanwhile, a 65-year-old man admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital succumbed to chikungunya on Monday, said Sir Ganga Ram Hospital PRO Ajoy Shegal, adding that the test for the vector-borne disease through RTPCR test for him came positive with an extremely high viral count. Ramakant Pandey is the first chikungunya casualty recorded in Delhi.
The deceased, a resident of Ghaziabad, was shifted to Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi from Yashodra Hospital in Ghaziabad in a deteriorating condition on September 10, Shegal told The Pioneer.
On the number of chikungunya cases claimed by the civic body, Dr Atul Kakar, vice-chairman of Internal Medicine at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said the exact figure of chikungunya cases is much higher than the number reported by civic agencies.
“Till date, we have reported about 500 chikungunya patients and 50-60 dengue cases. OPDs and emergency are overcrowded with patients. We have added 16 extra beds in the medicine department to cater fever patients,” he said.
“As the peak time for vector diseases is September, vector-borne cases will rise in the coming week. However, from onset of October, there will be slight decrease in the number,” added Dr Kakar.
Dr lalit Dar, professor of microbiology at AIIMS told The Pioneer, “This year over 60 per cent people suffering from viral fever is because of chikungunya and only 1-2 per cent people are suffering from dengue this time. And 20 per cent people are suffering from fever like illness without any major symptoms as they have developed antibodies against both the diseases.”
Dr Dar also said the number of chikungunya cases is much higher than the civic body’s figure as 1,360 cases of the vector-borne disease were confirmed at AIIMS laboratory alone.
About 328 dengue cases and 531Chikungyuna cases reported at Safdarjung Hospital, with five deaths (dengue), said Dr AK Rai, medical superintendent at Safdarjung Hospital.
“This year, it’s the susceptible population such as migrants, labourers and others who are affected with the diseases. The spurt in the vector-borne diseases is due to both municipal failure and general population’s lack for mosquito breeding preventive measures,” said a senior doctor.
All private and Government hospitals are flooded with dengue and chikungunya patients with thousands suffering from acute high fever (viral fever). In the need of the hour, additional beds have been placed to accommodate thousands of patients at all the hospitals in the national Capital, the doctor said.
Besides, construction sites have added more spots for aedes to breed. Dr AC Dhariwal, Director, National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) said stagnant water at construction sites are some of the causes of mosquito breeding in this season. Due to rain, waterlogging at various locations in Delhi led to spike in the viral cases, Dhariwal added. The change in climatic conditions, sultry weather, and poor drainage system has also contributed to the same.
“Previously, chikungunya was found in South India. This year, the disease has seen an upsurge in Delhi. Because of susceptible population and severe humidity in July and August, it acquired the shape of an epidemic,” added Dr Dhariwal.
Dr Suranjeet Chatterjee, Director of Internal medicine at Apollo Hospital said, “Presently, in the city, thousands of people are suffering from high grade fever and rashes with prolong joint pain. chikungunya is first while dengue is second this time,” he said.
“Since most of the patients are referred to their homes after the initial treatment as it can be done from homes but this time the situation is bad and we are not able to accommodate in out hospitals,” said Dr RK Singal, who heads the internal medicine department at BlK Hospital.
According to Dr Aashish Chaudhry, Consultant Orthopaedian at Aakash Healthcare, “This year, the viral fevers, including cases of chikungunya, have caused crippling joint pains, swollen joints, and rashes all over the body. Surprisingly, many come for orthopaedic consultations rather than viral fever treatments.”
At least nine deaths due to dengue have been reported this year in Delhi, though the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) which compiles the report on vector-borne diseases on behalf of all civic bodies here has maintained only four deaths.
last year, the city saw a staggering 15,867 dengue cases--the worst in 20 years--with the disease claiming 60 lives, as per municipal reports. In 2015, August and September had seen 778 and 6,775 cases respectively while October had recorded a staggering 7,283 cases.
In 2015, only six cases were reported in June, while 36 were registered in July. In 1996, a severe outbreak of dengue had occurred in Delhi when about 10,252 cases and 423 deaths were reported.