Gear up for rise in vector-borne diseases, warn city doctors

Peak season of vector-borne diseases starts from mid-July and continues till the end of November, says health official

TO GO WITH India-health-dengue,FEATURE by Annie BANERJI
 In this picture taken on October 3, 2013, an Indian Municipal health worker fumigates against mosquitoes at a neighborhood in New Delhi. Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease with no known cure or vaccination that strikes fear into the citizens of New Delhi when it arrives with the monsoon rains -- just as the scorching heat of the summer is subsiding. AFP PHOTO/ MANAN VATSYAYANA

Here is some bad news for Delhiites. City doctors claim the Capital is yet to see the worst of the outbreak of vector-borne diseases and that the Delhi government figures of the diseases may not be an actual representation of the extent of the problem.

Awareness drives

“The number of cases of malaria, chikungunya and dengue continue to rise in the city and the peak season of vector-borne diseases starts from mid-July and continues till the end of November,” said a senior municipal government health official.

So far, the municipal corporations have reported breeding of mosquitoes at 58,753 households in the city despite stepped up awareness drives, including distribution of pamphlets and plying of vehicles carrying loudspeakers issuing dos and don’ts on prevention of vector-borne diseases.

Meanwhile, over 40 challans have been issued to offices and even a monument in Delhi that is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, for not checking mosquito-breeding on their premises.

Notices issued

The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) said it had sent notices to the office of the Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL), a Delhi Metro project site in Munirka, an office of the Public Works Department (PWD) and even Humayun’s Tomb, among others, after mosquito-breeding was found on the premises.

“In July, 25 challans were served against defaulters, including MTNL office at Raj Nagar, metro project at Munirka, Humayun’s Tomb and Central School in Sadik Nagar,” the SDMC said in a statement.

Sixteen challans were issued against locations that come under the North Delhi Municipal Corporation for mosquito-breeding, including the PWD and the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board’s offices at Inder Lok, DAV Public School in Badli, and a nursing hostel at Hindu Rao Hospital.

‘Infections and diseases’

D. S. Chadha Director, the Department of Internal Medicine, Fortis Flt. Lt. Rajan Dhall Hospital, said: “Though we look forward to the monsoon each year as it spells relief from the summer heat, it also brings with it a range of infections and diseases. The warm, wet and humid weather is a breeding ground for mosquito-related illnesses, water-borne infections and viral infections. They are at their peak. During this season, all of us, especially children and senior citizens, can be affected and need to take precautions.”