260 new dengue cases, add up to 2,406

New Delhi: At least 260 fresh cases of dengue have been reported over the last one week in the national capital, taking the total number of people diagnosed with the vector-borne disease this season to 2,406, according to a municipal report released on Monday. Of the total number of cases, 811 were reported this month till Saturday.

As many as 1,114 cases were reported in October, the report said. Also, 466 cases of malaria and 154 of chikungunya have been reported this season, it said. Of the 2,406 dengue cases this year, 374 were recorded in September, 58 in August, 19 in July, eight in June, 10 in May, two in April, one in March, three in February and six in January. 

Two malaria cases were reported in February, one each in April and March, 17 in May, 25 in June, 42 in July, 82 in August, 138 in September and 130 in October, according to the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), which tabulates data on vector-borne diseases in the city. 

Doctors have advised people to take precautions to ensure there was no breeding of mosquitoes inside their homes and also urged people to wear full-sleeves and use mosquito nets. Water coolers should be dried up when not in use as dengue infection carrying mosquitoes breed there a lot, a doctor said. 

Cases of vector-borne diseases are usually reported between July and November, but the period may stretch to mid-December. No vector-borne disease case was reported till January 13. 

Of the 2,406 dengue cases this year, 374 were recorded in September, 58 in August, 19 in July, eight in June, 10 in May, two in April, one in March, three in February and six in January. Two malaria cases were reported in February, one each in April and March, 17 in May, 25 in June, 42 in July, 82 in August, 138 in September and 130 in October, according to the South Delhi Municipal Corporation. 

The report said domestic breeding checkers found mosquito breeding in 2,29,933 households in the city till Saturday and 1,83,641 legal notices have been served for various violations and "25,873 prosecutions initiated".
 
As a pro-active measure, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal had a few months ago directed local bodies and other agencies to intensify vector-control measures. He had also asked for regular meetings at the level of district magistrates with all stakeholders to review the situation in their respective districts. 

According to the SDMC, 10 people died due to dengue in Delhi last year, among them five were not residents of the national capital. Overall, the vector-borne disease had affected 9,271 people in the city last year.