Over 600 suspected cases of dengue in Ggn

Gurugram: This year, as many as 600 suspected cases of dengue have been reported in Gurugram, officials of the district health department said, adding that 40 confirmed cases have also been reported.

"Considering that the season of mosquito-borne disease is not over yet, this year's number is only expected to rise," Dr Ram Prakash Rai, district epidemiologist said.

The highest ever number of suspected cases in the district was around 2,000 in 2015. In 2017, this number was 521, while 2016 saw 430 suspected cases.

Doctors added they expected a fall in the number of dengue cases after three or four weeks, as the weather turns colder.

"After October, when the temperature dips, the dengue virus cannot survive for too long," Dr Rai added.

However, a major concern for the health authorities is that two lives have already been claimed by the vector-borne disease, with a 13-year-old among the victims.

Most cases this year have been reported from posh areas of the city. Rapid response teams have been set up by the district health department to tackle the menace of vector-borne diseases. Preparations have already begun for early fogging.

Teams have also been formed by the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) to detect the presence of mosquito larvae across the four municipal zones into which the city is divided.