‘The rising cases of dengue and related hospitalisations in Delhi, despite a dip in temperature, are worrying’.
Despite a dip in temperature, the rising cases of dengue and other vector-borne diseases in Delhi have become a cause for worry.
The number of dengue cases recorded in Delhi was 5,000 till mid-September 2023. The Union Health Ministry’s National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC) has reported that as of mid-September of this year, 5,221 dengue cases and one dengue-related fatality have been reported in Delhi. However, no current data on the cases of dengue has been released by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), which has cautioned citizens against complacency in the fight against the deadly disease that has spread rapidly in the national capital.
According to an inside source in MCD, cases of dengue in Delhi have increased up to 5,000 till 21 October, more than double the cases seen in the same period in 2022 and the highest in the last five years as per data. On the other hand, the MCD has not released the weekly dengue reports since August. However, the information given by the insider shows that the cases were the highest in September, with 2,141 cases, while 1,487 cases were reported from October until August, which saw 1,094, one dengue death has been reported so far.
Dr Anurag Mahajan, Vice Chairman, Critical Care, at PSRI Hospital, told The Sunday Guardian: “It is immediately not possible to say whether the situation is epidemic or not because the hospital presently is not flooded with such patients, but it doesn’t seem like an epidemic by proportions.”
Dr Aashish Chaudhry of Aakash Healthcare said, “Currently, 20–30 patients are coming on a daily basis, and 5-6 patients are getting admitted per day. Surprisingly, this year, we are getting more patients with high fevers like 104° to 106°, which is not normal at all.
People who had dengue already are also frequent this year.” Citing the hike in the cases of dengue, Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor Vinay Saxena has shown his concern and directed the NDMC, MCD, and city government to ensure the mitigation of mosquito breeding on a war-footing. He said that the rising cases of dengue and related hospitalisations in Delhi, despite a dip in temperature, are worrying.
He posted on X (twitter): “Spoke to the Chief Secretary, NDMC Chairman, MCD Commissioner, and Secretary (Health), to ensure proper sanitation and mitigation of mosquito breeding on a war-footing. I also asked them to ascertain adequate facilities at dispensaries and hospitals. I appeal to the people to take all necessary precautionary measures.”
Former Mayor and leader of Opposition in MCD Raja Iqbal Singh slammed the Aam Aadami Party (AAP)-led MCD regarding the deteriorating dengue situation in Delhi. Raja Iqbal Singh said that the government has failed terribly in controlling vector-borne diseases such as dengue, malaria, and chikungunya in Delhi. The situation related to dengue, malaria, and chikungunya has become horrifying day by day, and the municipal corporation does not have a plan or framework to deal with this problem. He criticised the government for keeping the public in the dark about the actual situation.
Singh said, “It was only after the intervention of Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor, V.K. Saxena, that the figures for dengue, malaria, and chikungunya were released, indicating that more than 5,000 dengue cases have been reported in Delhi.” Iqbal Singh urged the MCD to release statistics related to dengue and malaria timely so that the public remains informed of the actual situation.
He emphasised that this year, no insecticides have been procured for the prevention of dengue, malaria, and chikungunya, and neither are tests for these diseases being conducted in municipal hospitals. The helpless people of Delhi are forced to seek expensive treatment in private hospitals, and no one is listening to their pleas, he alleged.
However, Mayor Dr. Shelly Oberoi said, “All the necessary steps are being taken on a war footing to check the spread of dengue and other vector-borne diseases, and currently, the situation in Delhi is under control.” Mayor Oberoi said the MCD is dealing with vector-borne diseases with full force, and the dengue cases will reduce in the coming 15 days.
An MCD official said that due to the continuous efforts of the MCD, mosquito larvae breeding has also “reduced significantly” in Delhi, dropping from 7% to 1%. Indoor and outdoor fogging is being done using more than 1,000 machines across 250 wards in Delhi. The MCD is checking mosquito larvae breeding at more than 1.5 lakh places every day, and notices and challans are being issued to the violators.