30 new dengue cases in New Delhi

New Delhi: Thirty fresh cases of dengue and 20 of malaria were reported form the national capital in the last week, according to a report by municipal authorities released on Monday.

While the total number of dengue cases climbed to 180, malaria cases were recorded till July 22 was 230.

As far as chikungunya is concerned, 12 new cases were reported, taking the total this year to 195. Authorities and doctors fear that the number of cases may rise further as the season for the vector-borne diseases begins from mid-July, when Delhi witnesses more rainfall, and generally lasts till November-end.

Cases of all three vector-borne diseases have been reported much earlier this time, which doctors have attributed to the early arrival of monsoon.

Breeding of mosquitoes has been reported at 69,057 households in Delhi, according to the report. Of the 230 malaria cases, 116 affected people were residents of Delhi while the rest of the cases diagnosed here were traced to other states.

At least 57 cases have been recorded this month. Of the 195-chikungunya cases, 127 of the affected people were residents of Delhi while the rest of the cases were from other states, it said.

Forty-three cases of dengue have been reported this month, while 15 were recorded in June.

All three municipal corporations have stepped up awareness drives — distributing pamphlets and plying vehicles with loudspeakers issuing dos and don’ts on prevention of the diseases.

The Delhi government had on June 23 issued instructions to state-run private hospitals and nursing homes to increase their bed capacity by up to 20 per cent for the next six months to deal with a possible outbreak of dengue and chikungunya.

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal directed the authorities last month to make a comprehensive plan in the matter, while civic bodies are trying to combat the menace of mosquito breeding, in and out of homes, through regular monitoring.