Malaria, chikungunya on rise as monsoon sets in

New Delhi: With the onset of monsoon, the city is witnessing a rise in the number of vector-borne diseases such as malaria and chikungunya.

According to a municipal report released on Monday, 125 malaria cases have been reported this season while chikungunya has affected 153 people.

The number of dengue cases recorded till July 1 has touched nearly 100.

According to the report, of the total number of malaria cases, 63 of the affected people were residents of Delhi while the rest of the infection cases diagnosed here were traced to other states. 41 cases in the city were reported last month.

Of the 153 cases of chikungunya, 12 were recorded last month, even as authorities gear up to combat its possible outbreak.

The SDMC has launched a pilot project whereby about 200 dengue breeding checkers (DBCs) in select vulnerable regions have been armed with tablets to record data during inspection of households and feed it to central control room in real time.

All three municipal corporations have stepped up awareness drive, including through distribution of pamphlets and plying of vehicles carrying loudspeakers, issuing out “do’s and don’ts” on prevention of vector-borne diseases.

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

The government has banned over-the-counter sale of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and brufen as their use may “pose a threat” to dengue and chikungunya patients.

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had last month directed the authorities to make a comprehensive plan in the matter, while the civic bodies are keeping a tab on mosquito-breeding, in and out of homes, through regular monitoring.

Though the season of vector-borne diseases had ended in December, the city continues to report such cases, prompting authorities to prepare a roadmap for the combat plan.

On May 13, Mr Kejriwal had chaired a high-level meeting of officers from the three MCDs and the Delhi government to discuss plans to eliminate vector-borne diseases in the city.

He had also written to Union health minister J.P. Nadda, requesting him to reserve 10 per cent of the beds in the Central government-run hospitals for the treatment of dengue and chikungunya patients.