Worst dengue threat in 4 yrs

Delhi is grappling with the biggest dengue outbreak since 2006.

Delhi is grappling with the biggest dengue outbreak since 2006.

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There have been 30 cases of dengue this year till July 26, according to Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) data, against only two cases till the same time last year.

A survey of six private hospitals in the city indicated the number could be higher.

“MCD does not accept a case as dengue until it gets a positive dengue serology report,” said Dr K.K. Aggarwal, chief physician at Moolchand Hospital. “People test positive only five days after the onset of fever, so many cases are missed.”

Mosquito-breeding sites detected by the MCD have gone up threefold this year. The MCD has sent already legal notices to almost 34,000 homes and government departments against 14,000 last year.

The situation is particularly alarming at the Commonwealth Games construction sites such as the Yamuna Sports Complex, the CWG village, Shivaji Stadium and the Indira Gandhi Stadium, where high mosquito breeding has been detected.

“Delhi has been getting intermittent rains. The warm, humid weather is conducive to mosquito breeding,” said N.K. Yadav, medical health officer, MCD.