Delhi smokes out mosquitoes

Unsanitary conditions in various parts of the city have led to the large-scale breeding mosquitoes which cause diseases such as dengue, malaria and chikungunya. Pools of stagnant water in and around houses are perfect breeding grounds for dengue-causing mosquitoes.

Unsanitary conditions in various parts of the city have led to the large-scale breeding mosquitoes which cause diseases such as dengue, malaria and chikungunya. Pools of stagnant water in and around houses are perfect breeding grounds for dengue-causing mosquitoes.

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Hospitals—both government and private—are flooded these days with people showing symptoms indicative of mosquito and water-borne diseases such as high fever, chills, diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue, loss of appetite etc.

The MCD, which collates data on vector-borne and water-borne diseases in the Capital, has already recorded 15 cases of dengue, with one death, and more than 200 cases of cholera so far, this year. The hospitals are supposed to report all the positive cases of dengue to the MCD, and the agency conducts confirmatory tests in their laboratories before reporting a case.

Prevention is the best way to safeguard ourselves against these diseases, and the MCD’s domestic breeding checkers have been conducting door-to-door checks to ensure there is no mosquito breeding. Chemicals like temephos, are distributed free of cost by MCD, to prevent breeding of mosquitoes and check the number of infections.