Max dengue cases in a single day

August this year has had two dubious distinctions: It has been the wettest August in the last 10 years and it has also, thanks to the rains, seen the highest number of dengue cases being reported in the month as compared to previous years.

August this year has had two dubious distinctions: It has been the wettest August in the last 10 years and it has also, thanks to the rains, seen the highest number of dengue cases being reported in the month as compared to previous years.

HT Image

On Tuesday, the Capital reported 43 new cases—more than twice the number reported in a single day till a week ago in the city.

Incidentally, 43 cases is also the season’s highest number of cases reported in a single day so far. With this, the total number of dengue cases has reached 496 with one fatality.

“The dengue threat is for real. I get about five dengue cases daily,” said Dr Sanjeev Bagai, CEO and senior paediatrician, Batra Hospital and Medical Research Centre. The city’s hospitals are flooded with suspected dengue cases, and are trying to accommodate the maximum number of critical patients in the hospital. St Stephen’s Hospital near Tees Hazari had 127 dengue positive patients admitted till August 23. Hospitals such as Moolchand Medcity and Holy Family had 30 and 80 dengue cases admitted respectively.

On their part, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) officials have deployed extra men in areas where maximum cases have been reported and large-scale mosquito breeding has been found. “We have increased our staff strength in all 12 zones to intensify fogging and to challan violators. We urge residents to extend full co-operation in adhering to dengue prevention guidelines to help check the disease,” said N.K. Yadav, medical health officer, MCD.