Dengue has claimed three more lives in Delhi taking the toll to four this year in the nation's Capital. The cases haven't seen any decline as fresh 551 cases of the vector borne disease were reported in city last week. Doctors blamed prolonged rainy season and late winter arrival to be the cause behind the sudden spurt in dengue related cases.
According to the weekly report released by South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) on Monday, dengue has claimed four lives so far. While two were reported in September, the other two were reported in of October.
"As per the latest information, Aman Tiwari (13) and Sanskriti (21) who were admitted in Mata Chanan Devi Hospital died in October. Gagan (23), admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital died in September," said a senior official of Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).
Earlier, Harshita (13), a resident of Wazirabad area of North Delhi also died of dengue in Hindu Rao Hospital in September.
With all this already happening, doctors in the city suggest prolonged rainy season and late winter arrival to be reasons behind it.
"The winter has not come in full swing yet. Due to relatively high temperatures or global warming, there has been a shift in the pattern and now we see the cases throughout the year," said Dr Atul Kakar, Vice Chairman, Department of Medicine, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.
The number cases of the vector borne disease this year is higher than the cases last year, pointing it out Dr Vikas Maurya, senior doctor, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh said, "This year we had prolonged rainy season and the winters aren't here yet. November was hotter this year. In fact, even now the afternoons are warm enough to provide the mosquitoes a proper breeding ground."
Also, whenever there is an outbreak, the tail is a little longer, added Dr Kakar.
Last year, in the month of November, the cases of dengue that belonged only to the National Capital were 816 while this year, more than 1,000 cases of dengue were reported in November, suggested the weekly report.
Highlighting the number of cases recorded last week, a senior official said, "Around 551 fresh cases of dengue were reported last week out of which 251 belonged to Delhi while 249 were acquired from the other States. In 51 cases, address was not given by the hospitals."
Apart from that, 13 fresh cases of malaria including 6 acquired from the other States and 13 fresh cases of chikungunya including 5 acquired from the other States have also been recorded.
Amidst this, the corporation has sprayed around 27,22,579 houses. Around 2,31,523 places were found positive for mosquito breeding out of which 1,84,853 places were given legal notices. The prosecution has been launched in 25,923 cases so far.
With more than 10,547, most of the prosecutions were launched in areas coming under SDMC. In North civic body, only 6,768 prosecutions were launched and in East civic body, around 8,608 prosecutions were launched. With 10,547 cases, the highest number of prosecutions was launched in South Delhi.
