14 dengue cases already in Delhi

Double this month than in July last year

A total of 14 confirmed cases of dengue were reported in the capital till Friday.

Intermittent rain, high humidity levels and stagnant rainwater in the city — conditions that are conductive for mosquito breeding — have cast fears of dengue and malaria cases rising even further in the coming days.

Till around the same time last month, seven cases of dengue were reported, which was much higher than the corresponding period last year. Overall, there were around 3,000 dengue cases in 2012, with four turning fatal.

Health officials have confirmed the spurt in mosquito-borne diseases and are gearing up to tackle the menace, acknowledging that the following weeks will see a spurt in the cases of mosquito-borne diseases.

The North Delhi Municipal Corporation has started fumigation in the localities.
“Mosquito breeding checkers are visiting every home to check mosquito-breeding,” said a health officer. Those violating the rules pertaining to breeding of mosquitoes are also being fined.

State health and family welfare minister Dr A K Walia has already directed the deputy health officers of the three municipal corporations to carry out raids against illegal sugarcane juice crushers and cut-fruit vendors.

Max Hospital, meanwhile, on Saturday organised an awareness campaign on dengue prevention. About 170 students from 11 schools in east Delhi participated in the inter-school skit competition that focused on the causes, treatment and prevention of the disease.