Sudden spurt in dengue and malaria cases in Capital

NEW DELHI: Despite regular review meetings on vector-borne diseases by Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal with local bodies, 29 cases of malaria have been reported in the first three weeks of July in the national capital, taking the total number of people affected by the vector-borne disease in the national capital this season to 75, according to a municipal report released on Monday. Delhi Lieutenantgovernor Anil Baijal on June 28 had directed local bodies and other agencies to intensify vector-control measures.

The LG had also asked for regular meetings at the districtmagistrate level with all stakeholders to review the situation in their respective districts.

Two cases of malaria were reported in February, one each in April and March, 17 in May, 25 in June and 29 till July 21, according to the report released by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), which tabulates the data on vectorborne diseases for the city.

Of the total 43 dengue cases this season, 13 were reported in July, six in January, three in February, one in March, two in April, 10 in May and eight in June. At least, 18 cases of chikungunya have also been reported this month, taking the total to 34 this season.

"Both dengue and malaria have different carriers. Therefore, it is not unusual for malaria cases to be reported in larger number compared to dengue," a senior doctor at a government-run hospital said. People must take all precautions, like wearing full-sleeve clothes and not allowing breeding of mosquito larvae inside homes, she said. "Water coolers should be dried up when not in use as dengue infection carrying mosquitoes breed there a lot. Mosquito nets should be used at home," the doctor said.

Cases of vector-borne diseases are usually reported between July and November, but the period may stretch to mid-december. No vectorborne disease was reported till January 13. The report said that domestic breeding checkers have found mosquitobreeding in 69,057 households in the city till July 21. It said 67,527 legal notices have been served for various violations and "7,257 prosecutions have been initiated".

According to the SDMC, 10 people died due to dengue in Delhi last year of whom five were not residents of the national capital, they died here. Overall, the vector-borne disease had affected 9,271 people in the city last year. The official toll maintained by Delhi municipal authorities till December 26 last year stood at four, even though some hospitals reported a few more deaths due to dengue. The mosquito-borne tropical disease had claimed its first victim in the city last year on August 1 when a 12-year-old boy died of dengue shock syndrome at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. Three more deaths were reported in October by SDMC. The number of malaria and chikungunya cases reported last year stood at 1,142 and 940 respectively.