Nine cases of dengue in Delhi this year; 10,280 notices issued

At least nine dengue cases have been reported in Delhi this year, a municipal report released on Monday said.

Last year, 2,798 dengue cases and four deaths were recorded by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), which tabulates data on vector-borne diseases in the city.

According to the latest report, a case was reported in May, two in April, four in March and one each in February and January this year. Cases of vector-borne diseases are usually reported between July and November but the period may stretch to mid-December.

Four cases of malaria have been reported till May 11 and five cases of chikungunya this year. The dengue victims last year included a minor boy. Three of the victims were identified as Aman Tiwari (13), Sanskriti (21) and Gagan (23).

According to the SDMC, 10 people had died due to dengue in Delhi in 2017, of whom five were not residents of the national capital.

Overall, the vector-borne disease had affected 9,271 people in the city that year.

Mosquito-breeding has been reported from at least 8,546 households and 10,280 legal notices have been issued this year. At least 452 challans have been issued to residents not removing mosquito breeding habitats in their homes in spite of warnings.

The South Delhi Municipal Corporation said it has charged people ₹1,79,570 as “administrative charges” for medicines used to kill mosquitoes at their homes. About 473 cases of malaria and 165 of chikungunya were reported last year.

Doctors have advised people to take precautions to ensure that there is no breeding of mosquito larvae around them and use mosquito nets. Water coolers should be dried up when not in use.