The Capital might be in for an outbreak of dengue and chikungunya, according to data which shows that the number of cases reported this year till now are already more than what has been seen in the same period in the past four years.
A report by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), which collates data for all the three corporations, shows that between January 1 and June 17 this year, 105 cases of chikungunya, 50 cases of dengue and 59 cases of malaria have been reported.
In the same period last year, zero cases of chikungunya, five of dengue and 38 cases of malaria were reported. In fact, the figures this year are higher than the trends since 2013, when only one case of chikungunya was reported between January 1 and June 17.
In 2016, a total of 7,760 cases of chikungunya and 4,431 cases of dengue were reported.
‘Early showers the cause’
Though more cases are being reported this year, the good news is that no deaths have been reported till now.
Health experts said that the number of cases is high this time, considering the dengue “season” is still a few months away.
The season of breeding generally picks up in September, after the monsoon, and reaches its peak in October-November.
Experts explained that once the temperature dips, the virus dissipates.
The spate of early intermittent showers observed this year may have ushered in the diseases sooner than usual this year.
This might mean that we are headed for higher cases through the year and chances of higher fatalities.
The dengue virus has four strains with varying degree of symptoms.
‘Unpredictable’
In 2012 and 2013, Delhi saw relatively stronger strains surface for the first time since 1996.
More patients showed severe symptoms like platelets drops leading to shock syndrome and hemorrhagic fever.
“Every two to three years, the cycle repeats and thus there is an outbreak. However, in the last two years the pattern seems to have broken, which has made the disease more unpredictable. The cases have also seen a consistent high in the last two years,” said Dr. Ramesh Raghuram, senior physician at a private hospital in Gurugram.
This year, tests to identify the strains have not started yet, but doctors say patients are reporting fevers, malaise, and body ache only. Most do not require admission. To date, dengue has no approved vaccine though trials are underway and there is no ‘cure’ — treatment can only be symptomatic.
