The Capital recorded eight new cases of dengue over the past week (till April 9), taking this season’s caseload to 69, according to a civic report released on Monday.
However, six out of the eight cases remain “untraced after investigation”. Last week (till April 2), four of the six cases, that were recorded, remained untraced after investigation.
Cases in which an infected patient is identified but the details and address of the patient are not properly registered are marked as “untraced after investigation”.
To contain an infection, such as dengue, it is important for agencies such as municipalities to track patient details in order to trace the source of infection.
When asked about the recurring increase in untraced cases, a senior civic official said that hospitals were “not collecting patient details in the required manner”, while refusing to comment further.
Highlighting the trend in this season’s caseload, S.P. Byotra, a senior consultant at Ganga Ram Hospital, said the city is likely to record a high number of dengue cases this season.
He added, “I would not be surprised if the numbers are high for this season as well. However, hospitals are collecting the required patient details, including their address, because it is necessary. There is no question of hospitals not doing their bit.”
So far, 45 dengue cases have been marked “untraced after investigation”, which is more than half of the total dengue cases, in the Capital this season.
According to the civic report, for which the data is provided by the Delhi government, all the cases marked “untraced after investigation” were registered by the three civic bodies - North (13), South (17), and East (15). Other agencies such as New Delhi Municipal Council did not report a single such case.
Last season, over 2,900 cases of dengue remained untraced, while the total caseload stood at 9,613 and the death toll at 23 — the highest since 2015 when the city recorded 15,867 cases and 60 deaths.
In the months of January, February, and March, Delhi has recorded 23, 16, and 22 cases respectively, which are significant numbers as the caseload in these months, over the last five years, has always been registered in single digits.
