60 malaria cases so far this month

NEW DELHI: With nearly 60 fresh cases of malaria reported this month, the total number of persons affected by the vector-borne disease in the Capital has reached 146 so far this year.

Data released on Monday by South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), on behalf of all the municipal corporations, revealed that 78 dengue cases have been reported this season, with 29 cases reported this month till August 11, 19 in July, six in January, three in February, one in March, two in April, 10 in May and eight in June.

Three fresh cases of chikungunya were reported here in the last week, raising the number to 44.

For malaria, two cases were reported in February, one each in April and March, 17 in May, 25 in June, 42 in July and 58 in August, the SDMC report said.

A senior doctor at a government-run facility said both dengue and malaria have different carriers. Therefore, it is not unusual for malaria cases to be reported in larger number compared to dengue.

He advised people to take all precautions, like wearing full-sleeve clothes and not allowing breeding of mosquito larvae inside homes.

“Water coolers should be dried up when not in use as dengue infection carrying mosquitoes breed there a lot. Mos- quito nets should be used at home,” the doctor said.

The cases of vector-borne diseases are usually reported between July and November, but the period may stretch to mid-december.

No vector-borne disease case was reported till January 13. The report said domestic breeding checkers found mosquito breeding in 1,14,532 households in the city till August 25. It said 1,04,866 legal notices have been served for various violations and 14,155 prosecutions initiated”.

On June 28, Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal had directed local bodies and other agencies to intensify vector control measures. He directed for regular review meetings at the level of district magistrates with all stakeholders.