Chikungunya, dengue strike early in Delhi, combat plan still in works

According to a municipal report, 79 cases of chikungunya and 24 of dengue have been reported in Delhi in the last three months despite the fact that the season for vector-borne diseases begins mid-July and ends in December.

At least 79 cases of chikungunya have been reported in Delhi this year even though the season of the vector-borne diseases had ended in December. Twenty-four cases of dengue have also been reported in the last three months, according to a municipal report released on Monday.

Out of the 79 chikungunya cases reported till April 8, eight of these were recorded in April, while 34 were diagnosed in March. Twenty cases were detected in January and 13 in February. (HT FILE)

As many as 4,431 cases of dengue were reported till the end of 2016, according to the report by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation which tabulates the data on behalf of all municipal corporations in the city.

Out of the 79 chikungunya cases reported till April 8, eight of these were recorded in April, while 34 were diagnosed in March. Twenty cases were detected in January and 13 in February.

Six cases of dengue were reported in January, four in February, 11 in March and three in April.

Till January 14, only two chikungnuya cases were reported, while no dengue case had been reported till then.

Chikungunya and dengue cases in the national capital had tapered off by December first week last year ending the vector-borne disease season in the city that witnessed its worst chikungunya outbreak in the last 10 years, but cases are still being registered.

The municipal authorities had in early March called an all-hands workshop on prevention and control of vector-borne diseases to finalise a comprehensive action plan for combating the menace in the coming season.

In the workshop, SDMC commissioner PK Goel had asked officials to “identify the cases of dengue and chikungunya coming to Delhi from other states”.

Lieutenant governor Anil Baijal on March 23 had held a review meeting with the three municipal commissioners on preparations for combating vector-borne diseases in the city in the wake of cases of vector-borne diseases still being reported.

At least 15 fatalities were reported in 2016 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 in 2016 at various hospitals, including nine at AIIMS, though the official tally of the SDMC stood at 10.

Seventeen suspected deaths in 2016 due to malaria were also reported by the civic bodies.

In one of the worst outbreak, a total of 12,221 chikungunya cases were reported in Delhi till December 24, 2016, out of which 9,749 were confirmed.

The season for the vector-borne diseases begins from mid-July and generally lasts till November-end.