E-Paper
Chikungunya cases in Delhi hit record high
NEW DELHI: Delhi recorded its highest ever chikungunya cases in the week ending October 1, but the worst is over. Hospital data shows that new infections are down,
NEW DELHI: Delhi recorded its highest ever chikungunya cases in the week ending October 1, but the worst is over. Hospital data shows that new infections are down, but this downward trend will reflect in MCD data next week because the confirmatory test for chikungunya is done a week to 10 days after people get symptoms.
Delhi had 1,598 new chikungunya cases over the past week, taking the total to 5,293, shows Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) data, yet people with dengue and chikungunya at both Delhi-government and MCD-run hospitals have halved, which shows the outbreak is waning.
“New infection is down but recorded cases are up because the confirmatory test for chikungunya is done a week to 10 days after people get symptoms,” said Dr DK Seth, director, hospital administration, North Corporation.
“People who come to the fever clinic with chikungunya are called back after eight days for a confirmatory test, so those who test positive make it to the MCD report 10 days to two weeks after they get infection.”
Private hospitals have also registered a fall in numbers. “Through most of September, we got 30-40 chikungunya patients every day, now its about 20. The number of hospital admissions is also down,” said Dr Rommel Tickoo, senior consultant, internal medicine, Max Super Speciality hospital. “Even if there’s rain, new cases will not shoot up drastically as the pool of infected people is falling.”
Delhi faced its biggest ever chikungunya outbreak this year. Spread by mosquitoes, the viral infection causes high fever, joint swelling and pain (lower back, ankle, knees, wrists or fingers), rash, headache, nausea and fatigue.
Along with Karnataka’s 10,334 cases, it accounts for 75% of India’s total of 20,000, shows Union Health Ministry data till September 25.
The Supreme Court fined Delhi health minister Satyendra Jain Rs 25,000 on Monday for failing to file on time an affidavit on what the government is doing to fight chikungunya.
“You make such tall claims about what you can do. Why can’t you file an affidavit in time,” the court asked Jain. “You don’t need time when people are dying of chikungunya, you should have worked overnight to prepare the affidavit.”
