40 dengue cases in Delhi; 38 per cent rise over last week

NEW DELHI: At least 40 cases of dengue have been reported till last week this year, the highest number for the period in the last five years, according to a municipal report on the vector-borne disease released today.

Of these, 23 cases were reported in July only, marking a rise of nearly 38 per cent in the number of cases over the last week.

Till July 18, at least 29 cases had been reported. The number of cases from January 1 to July 25 for the last four years are - 16 (2014), 17 (2013), 9 (2012), 15 (2011).

For the same period in 2010, over 50 cases were reported.

In Delhi, out of the total 40 cases, the maximum, 15, were reported from north Delhi while east Delhi recorded the lowest number with eight cases.

12 cases were recorded in south Delhi during the period, the report by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation ( SDMC) said.

Three cases were reported from areas outside the jurisdiction of the municipal corporations in the city while a case each was reported from Uttar Pradesh and one other state.

"While dengue cases are being reported, its number this year is expected to be lower this year by the end of the season, as we have taken all precautionary measures to ward off the vector-borne disease.

"Besides, between rains, one dry spell with sunny weather reduces breeding. So, further number of cases will depend on how the weather plays out from here on," a senior NDMC official said.

All three corporations - North, South and East - have their own anti-dengue drive to create awareness and penalise people and institutions if water stagnation is found in coolers and other areas.

Besides, a dengue month is also marked by the civic bodies to intensify the awareness drive.

In 2014, the city had reported three deaths and recorded nearly 1,000 cases.

In 2013, over 5,500 cases were reported, while six people had died due to the disease. The capital had witnessed a large number of dengue cases in 2010 with over 6,000 cases reported in the city.

In 2008, over 1,300 cases were registered, 1,153 in 2009, over 1,100 cases in 2011 and 2,093 in 2012.

The SDMC compiles the dengue and malaria report on behalf of all civic bodies in the city.