Dengue cases in Delhi double in a week

Around 30 dengue cases were reported in Delhi every day last week, taking the total number of cases this year from 255 to 466 within just a seven-day period.

Around 30 dengue cases were reported in Delhi every day last week, taking the total number of cases this year from 255 to 466 within just a seven-day period.

HT Image

Between January 1 and August 31, 162 cases had been reported. Thereafter, 93 cases were registered in the first week of September and another 211 in the second, shows data collected from the city's municipal corporations.

According to the data, only 19 cases were reported from January 1 to September 14 last year. In the September-October peak period, though, around 35 cases were reported daily.

The disease usually peaks towards the end of September and beginning of October before dying down with the onset of winter.

The agencies haven't yet confirmed any dengue deaths this year, but private hospitals have reported five - one at Max Healthcare and two each at Moolchand and Balaji Action Hospital.

"Mosquito breeding could reduce with the fall in temperatures. But if the weather is on the warmer side, breeding would rise again. This trend continues till November," said Dr Arvind Aggarwal, senior consultant, internal medicine, Balaji Action.

"There are a lot of dengue cases in Delhi, due to which there is pressure on hospitals. There is a shortage of beds," he added.