36 cases of dengue, around 90 of chikungunya so far

NEW DELHI: At least 89 cases of chikungunya have been reported in Delhi this year, even as Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has directed authorities to make a comprehensive plan for combating vectorborne diseases.

Though the season of vector-borne diseases had ended in December, the city continues to report such cases.

36 cases of dengue have also been reported till May 13, according to a municipal report released on Monday.

As many as 4,431 cases of dengue were reported till the end of 2016, according to the report of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation, which tabulates the data on behalf of all municipal corporations in the city.

Out of the 89 chikungunya cases, 19 were recorded last month, while 34 were diagnosed in March. 20 cases were detected in January and 13 in February. Three cases have been registered this month.

Six cases of dengue were reported in January, four in February, 11 in March and as many in April, while four cases have been recorded in May.

On May 13, Kejriwal had chaired a high-level meeting of officers from the three municipal corporations and the Delhi government to discuss plans to eliminate vector-borne diseases in the national Capital.

“Delhi will be made mosquito-free. We will have to get rid of mosquito-borne diseases. It will be made a people's movement. It is only possible with people's participation,” Kejriwal had tweeted.

He had also written to Union Health Minister J P Nadda, requesting him to reserve 10 percent of the beds in the central governmentrun hospitals for the treatment of dengue and chikungunya patients.

Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on April 29 had directed Delhi government-run LNJP Hospital to keep beds ready for dengue and chikungunya patients in the event of an outbreak of vector-borne diseases in the city.