Dengue cases climb to 366 in Delhi

NEW DELHI: The spurt of dengue cases in the national capital in the last one month has taken the number of confirmed cases to 366, with civic authorities fearing that the spread of the disease may continue well through November.

"The confirmed cases of dengue are 366 so far. The city has witnessed two deaths due to dengue this season," MCD health officials said.

There has been a spurt in dengue cases in the city this month though the figure is still far less than last year, when 1,070 cases and two deaths were reported. The last five days itself witnessed an average of 20 to 22 dengue cases being reported.

MCD Municipal Health Officer N K Yadav said, generally, maximum cases occur during the month of October and the number of cases could show a downward trend once winter sets in.

The first dengue death was reported in the city on October 23 when a 15-year-old boy succumbed to the disease at AIIMS. The second was that of a nine-year-old boy who breathed his last at the LNJP hospital on Monday last.

"Actual cases could be much more if unreported figures are taken into account. What is worrisome is that for the last 15 days, we have witnessed a surge in cases. We fear that the cases may continue well through November," said V K Monga, former chairman and present member of the public health committee.