Dengue on rise in Delhi

Two new cases of dengue were reported in the Capital on Tuesday taking the total count to 17. Dr N K Yadav, Municipal Health Officer, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, said: “The situation in Delhi is not all that bad. As one can see, almost one third cases are those who have contracted the infection from outside Delhi.” HT reports

Two new cases of dengue were reported in the Capital on Tuesday taking the total count to 17.

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Dr N K Yadav, Municipal Health Officer, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, said: “The situation in Delhi is not all that bad. As one can see, almost one third cases are those who have contracted the infection from outside Delhi.”

He said five of the cases were from other states. With numerous waterlogging cases reported from the city, the civic agencies’ claim of ‘situation under control’ is a complete washout.

Health experts say that mosquito borne infections peak as monsoons start fading in September and October record the highest number of dengue and malaria cases in India.

With this kind of statistics, citizens are scared that this time that mosquito borne diseases dengue, malaria and chikungunya will be reported much before September.

In just two days of continued showers, several pockets of Delhi including Dhaula Kuan, Lajpat Nagar and Jungpura in south Delhi are waterlogged, spreading fear of these diseases.

“The drain outside my house is overflowing. The MCD undertook some construction work to cover the entire stretch, but the task was left midway,” said Veena Prabhakar, resident of Lajpat Nagar III. “Now there is a constant stench enveloping the area, in addition to the lurking fear of mosquito borne infections.”

The MCD has already constituted rapid response teams in all 12 zones to check spread of the disease. It has also identified 34 government hospitals as ‘sentinel surveillance hospitals’ to deal with dengue.