Monsoon effect: Chikungunya, malaria cases on the rise in Delhi

None of the three mosquito-borne diseases have claimed any lives in Delhi, according to the report. Last year, the corporations recorded 17 malaria deaths after five years of not having any. Dengue claimed 10 lives in 2016.

A total of 153 cases of chikungunya and 99 cases of dengue have been reported by Delhi hospitals since January this year, according to report for the week ending on July 1, released by the Municipal Corporations of Delhi (MCD) on Monday.

None of the three mosquito-borne diseases have claimed any lives in Delhi, according to the report. Last year, the corporations recorded 17 malaria deaths after five years of not having any. Dengue claimed 10 lives in 2016.

The number of malaria cases have also gone up, with 125 cases having been reported since January.

None of the three mosquito-borne diseases have claimed any lives in Delhi, according to the report. Last year, the corporations recorded 17 malaria deaths after five years of not having any. Dengue claimed 10 lives in 2016.

Delhi saw a chikungunya outbreak last year, which affected 7,760 persons, but killed none, according to corporation records. However, around 20 chikungunya-related deaths were reported from various city hospitals.

The number of dengue and chikungunya cases is expected to rise, with the monsoon finally hitting the city. Rainfall creates breeding grounds for aedes aegypti mosquitoes that transmit these diseases.

This year, the mosquito-borne diseases were being reported since January, whereas these diseases usually start emerging in June-July and peak in October-November. Forty cases of dengue and 96 cases of chikungunya had been recorded by the MCD till the end of May.

Last year, when Delhi had a chikungunya outbreak that affected 7,760, not a single case was reported till July. In case of dengue, which affected 4,431 people last year, only 13 cases had been reported till May end. In 2015, when Delhi had its worst ever dengue outbreak affecting nearly 16,000 and killing 60, only 11 cases had been reported till May end.