Dengue and malaria cases nearly triple in Delhi since August. What families should watch for
Delhi recorded 286 dengue cases in September alone, out of 597 this year. Doctors warn that early symptoms look like an ordinary viral fever.
Delhi recorded 597 dengue cases and 214 malaria cases this year up to the end of September, according to Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) data. Nearly half the dengue cases, 286, came in September alone, along with 124 malaria cases. In the week ending 26 September there were 85 new dengue cases.
No deaths from dengue or malaria have been reported in Delhi this year.
What the MCD has found
- About 3.03 crore house inspections for mosquito breeding.
- Mosquito larvae found in about 1.76 lakh homes.
- 1,25,708 legal notices and 17,599 prosecutions.
- ₹25.98 lakh collected in fines.
What doctors advise
With cases rising, parents should be cautious when children develop fever. These infections initially resemble routine viral illness, making self-diagnosis risky. — Dr Navin Bhatia
- See a doctor if a fever lasts more than a day or two, especially for children and older people, and get tested.
- Keep the patient well hydrated.
- Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen for fever without a doctor’s advice. In dengue they can raise the risk of bleeding.
- Empty standing water in coolers, pots, tyres and plant trays every week. The Aedes mosquito that spreads dengue breeds in clean, still water and bites in the daytime.
When it eases
Dengue cases in north India usually peak in late September and October and fall once night temperatures drop in November. Until then, the MCD’s figures suggest a lot of the breeding is happening inside homes.
Sources: The Patriot, ThePrint.
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