Over 750 new dengue cases reported in a week in Delhi

New Delhi: With 756 cases of dengue reported in the national capital over the last week, the total number of people affected by the disease has reached to 3,865 this season, according to a municipal report released on Monday.

The number of people affected by malaria this year till September 30, has climbed to 995 while the figure for chikungunya stands at 589 with 56 new cases reported previous week.

A 12-year-old boy had succumbed to dengue shock syndrome on August 1 at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here, the first death due to the vector-borne disease reported in the city this season.

Corporation officials of the said that the Education and Communication (IEC) campaigns to generate awareness among the people have been stepped up.

"The maximum breeding of Aedes mosquito, which causes dengue and chikungunya takes place in deserted coolers so we have already instructed manufacturers to sell dengue-free cooler. This initiative would help in containing the number of cases of these diseases," they said.

According to the report, breeding of mosquitoes has been reported at 1,74,593 households in Delhi while 1,43,655 legal notices have been issued.

All the three municipal corporations have stepped up awareness drives, distributing pamphlets and plying vehicles with loudspeakers issuing dos and don'ts for prevention of the diseases.

A senior official of the health department said, "We have taken preventive measures to reduce mosquito-borne diseases this time. Dengue breeding checkers has been instructed to identify breeding spots and control them. Our hospitals have been earmarked with sufficient beds only for dengue and Chikungunya patients".

A special fever clinic ward is being operated in the North Corporation run hospitals with facilities such as medicine counter, lab to test blood sample, a team of experts including doctors, lab technicians, pharmacists and others is available at one place.

"The blood banks at the fever clinics are also prepared to deal with the immediate requirements. Further, enough manpower with new and updated pieces of equipment has been deployed. A blood bank in charge will be held responsible in case of any shortage.

"Emergency lab services have been set up to provide round the clock by providing adequate staff providing all resources and developing a fast system of delivering patient reports," the official said.

Vector-borne diseases are reported between mid-July and November-end.

Cases of all the three vector-borne diseases were reported much earlier this time, which doctors had attributed to the early arrival of the monsoon.

Dengue and chikungunya are caused by Aedes agypti mosquito, which breeds in clear water while Anopheles mosquito, which causes malaria, can breed in both fresh and muddy water.