Gurgaon sees drop in chikungunya, dengue cases

Although the city is still witnessing chikungunya and dengue cases, hospitals are reporting a 10%-15% drop in cases this month.

The total number of confirmed dengue cases in Gurgaon this season is 71 and chikungunya is 23. Of these, 14 dengue patients and four chikungunya patients are those visiting the city. No deaths associated with these diseases have been reported so far in the city.

When compared to figures last month, there has been a steep decline in the number of cases, doctors said.

As many as 48 dengue cases were registered between August 1 and September 1. The first dengue case was registered on June 22 and only five more cases were registered till August 1.

In comparison, September has seen only 23 dengue cases so far.

The data available on the number of chikungunya cases can be misleading and only estimates can be ascertained as chikungunya, unlike dengue, is not a notifiable disease.

It is not mandatory for doctors and hospitals to immediately report every case of chikungunya to the health department and, hence, the lack of data. Hospitals can take time to compile the data and can send it over a week or at the end of the month.

Officially, the number of confirmed chikungunya cases with the district health department is 23, but unofficially, private and government hospitals estimate the figure to be in excess of 400.

Medanta – The Medicity Hospital saw a daily average of 50 suspected cases of chikungunya and 30 cases of dengue last month.

“The numbers have reduced considerably -- we are now seeing 15-20 patients with symptoms of chikungunya and 10-15 patients with symptoms of dengue daily,” Dr Sushila Kataria, associate director, internal medicine, Medanta – The Medicity, said.

Kataria though cautioned that the threat of mosquito-borne diseases is not yet over and for mosquito breeding to stop, temperature needs to drop below 24 degrees Celsius.

Similarly, at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, there has been a 15 % drop in mosquito-borne diseases.

“There has been a drop in both chikungunya and dengue patients. But a weather change can trigger mosquito breeding and any estimate of the diseases’ timeline varies,” Dr Raman Abhi, additional director, internal medicine, FMRI, said.

Authorities at Paras Hospital claimed that most suspected cases of vector-borne diseases are not being confirmed.

“Most suspected cases are testing negative. The ratio of confirmed chikungunya and dengue cases has also come down,” Dr Rajesh Kumar, senior consultant, internal medicine, Paras Hospital, said.

Health Department officials are also reporting a fall in cases. Till last month, around 800 patients were visiting the Civil Hospital and General Hospital in Sector 10 daily with symptoms of mosquito-borne diseases. Presently, the daily average has reduced by half , doctors said.