Govt claims fogging helped contain diseases

NEWDELHI: The Delhi government on Monday claimed that it was able to contain the spread of dengue this year by controlling the breeding of mosquitoes.

“Usually the number of dengue cases go up during the end of September and beginning of October and peaks mid October. However, due to the efforts by Delhi government the numbers have started coming down already,” said a Delhi government official.

Dengue cases, which have crossed the 2,100 mark in the city, have begun to plateau unlike last year when 6,775 cases were reported in September alone. According to a municipal report released on Monday, 2,133 dengue cases have been recorded till October 1. Of this, 1,362 were reported last month and 441 last week.

The government has pressed over 600 machines to spray pesticides in localities

Dr SM Raheja, in-charge of Delhi government’s dengue control cell, said, “The focus on areas from where more cases are being reported.”

Municipal officials, however, said that indiscriminate fogging is not the solution to contain the spread of vector-borne diseases.

“Fogging is visible and a populist measure, but it does not really help a lot. It just kills the mosquitoes that are out in the open, what about the ones inside homes and offices? Plus, if breeding is not stopped, more mosquitoes will be born even if fogging kills some,” said a municipal health official. Dengue cases Dengue deaths Chikungunya cases