Delhi grappling with dengue
POSTED July 31, 2010 - 11:12 | POSTED BY Neharika Sabharwal
Last edited by Harpreet Bhagrath on July 31, 2010 - 11:54
The vector borne disease is beginning to haunt the capital, which is seeing a surge in new cases daily.
Six fresh cases of dengue fever were reported from the capital Thursday in an outbreak that has killed one and infected 41 people.
Dr N K Yadav, chief medical officer of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) stated, "Six fresh cases of dengue were reported in the city today. With this, the total number of people who tested positive for dengue till now is 41.”
The patients are undergoing treatment at Lady Hardinge, Batra, and some hospitals under the MCD.
Threat highest at Commonwealth Games projects
The health officials blame sporadic rainfall and heavy construction work at the Commonwealth Games projects for the spread of dengue.
The muddy and stagnant water pits near the Games Village and at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium provide the best breeding places for mosquitoes.
N K Yadav, said, “One cannot negate the fact that there is a lot of construction activity going on everywhere, leading to water collection in many unwanted places. These fresh water pools become breeding hubs for Aedes Eqypti, the dengue-spreading mosquitoes.”
Precautionary measures undertaken
Disturbed by the sharp rise in the infections, the MCD is gearing up to curb the dengue menace.
Task forces created by the civic agency are carrying out fogging operations and door-to-door drive to check breeding of mosquitoes.
Yadav said, "We also held a meeting with 33 sentinel surveillance hospitals and advised them to check mosquito breeding in their premises.”
Municipal authorities issued legal notices to residents and organizations after dengue larvae were found breeding openly in homes, offices, back-lanes, drains, and on roadsides.
In addition, penal action is being taken on places that have “potential for breeding”.
Meanwhile, most of the city hospitals are well equipped to tackle the situation as the number of positive cases is still not high.
More about dengue
Dengue is a mosquito-borne disease transmitted by the bite of an Aedes mosquito that is infected with any one of the four dengue viruses.
The disease is manifested by a sudden onset of fever, with severe headache, and muscle and joint pains. There are no specific antiviral medicines for dengue, but it is vital to maintain hydration.
Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a lethal complication that affects mainly children and causes bleeding, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
