Dengue cases near 950; malaria at 473, chikungunya 339

NEW DELHI: The number of dengue cases in Delhi has mounted to a staggering 945, with 249 fresh cases being registered this month till August 26.

Apart from the escalating dengue threat in Delhi, 79 fresh cases of malaria and 58 of chikungunya have also reported this month, taking their total number of cases to 516 and 339, respectively

The information has been compiled as per the report released by the three Municipal Corporations of Delhi on Monday. One death had been recorded due to dengue hemorrhagic fever on August 1.

Meanwhile, South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) officials said they have already taken measures to check the menace of vector-borne diseases.

"Apart from checking breeding and taking appropriate action, the Corporation has also adopted preventive measures to bring the menace under control," an SDMC official said. "Top officers of the Public Health Department have also been instructed to take more serious action to keep breeding in check," he added.

Meanwhile, a majority of people claimed that domestic breeding checkers have not visited their residences. Many among them have reportedly not seen fogging in their areas.

A state of confusion prevails among citizen regarding whom to complain and how to approach the authorites for number of civic issues.

SDMC, however, has already launched a new application, called vector-borne disease control (VBDC), to cover 16 vulnerable wards identified on the basis of substantial breeding data localities.

At least 15 fatalities were reported last year at various hospitals in Delhi due to complications triggered by chikungunya; though civic bodies have kept the death toll at zero.

Last year, at least 21 deaths due to dengue were reported at various hospitals, including nine at AIIMS.

17 deaths, suspected to be due to malaria, were also reported in 2016 by civic bodies.