Dengue strikes back with vengeance

After a brief lull, 79 fresh cases were reported in the Capital, while two more people lost their lives to the disease.

After a short-lived respite, dengue cases shot up in the Capital with 79 patients being admitted to various hospitals across the city.

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The disease also claimed two more lives, taking the toll to 54.

"Two persons have died in the last 24 hours ending 11:00 am," Municipal Health Officer NK Yadav said.

With 79 fresh cases reported across the capital, the total number of people affected by the viral disease this year has risen to 2,373.

A dip in temperatures over the past few days had raised hopes of subsidence of the mosquito-borne disease and the Capital had seen a considerable decrease in the number of dengue cases during the Diwali weekend.

Night time temperatures hovered around 16 degree Celsius over the past week while the mercury touched a maximum of 32 degree during the day.

Experts said that the drop in temperature will lead to a gradual natural death for the dengue virus. However, the daytime temperatures of around 30 degree would still aid breeding of the dengue-causing Aedes Aegypti mosquito, they said.

Delhi Health Secretary DS Negi said there was nothing unusual about the increase in dengue cases.

"We have seen a spurt in dengue cases in October when weather conditions are apt for breeding of mosquitoes," he said.