Three dengue deaths in India, 148 fresh cases

New Delhi -- Dengue fever claimed three lives across the country, including two in Delhi, while 148 fresh cases were reported Friday as authorities said the fluctuating temperatures were ideal for the virus-carrying mosquitoes to breed.

The number of dengue cases across the country stood at 8,088, while the deaths reached 133.

Delhi continued to receive maximum number of dengue cases with 79 of the 148 patients being from the capital.

Apart from Delhi, other areas reporting dengue are West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh.

"The day temperature is hovering between 25-30 degrees Celsius. This is the ideal range for the breeding of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito," said D.S. Negi, Delhi health secretary.

Till the temperature does not fall further and puts a stop to the breeding of mosquitoes, dengue cases cannot be controlled, he said.

Meanwhile, the two people who succumbed to dengue in the capital Friday died in small hospitals. Details of their death are being collected, he said.

"Most of the deaths taking place are of patients who were admitted earlier," said Negi.

With the two deaths, the toll in Delhi reached 50. The total number of patients in Delhi stands at 2,372.

Health officials said the fluctuation in the day temperature was congenial for the breeding of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which was the reason for more cases being reported.

At the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), 42 new admissions were reported.

"Though patients continue to be reported in the hospital, an equal number are also being discharged. Around 43 patients have been discharged," said D.K. Sharma, medical superintendent AIIMS. He added 178 patients were being treated in the hospital while 25 patients were under observation.

Apart from Delhi, the states affected by the virus are Rajasthan (972), followed by Kerala (849), West Bengal (713), Punjab (657), Uttar Pradesh (541), Maharashtra (582), Gujarat (456), Haryana (349), Tamil Nadu (308), Andhra Pradesh (94), and Karnataka (92).

Delhi also saw a rise in chikungunya cases with one more case reported Friday, taking the total to 32 while 1,674 cases were reported in the country.

The maximum number of confirmed chikungunya cases were reported from Maharashtra (679) followed by Karnataka (294), Andhra Pradesh (248), Gujarat (170), Tamil Nadu (116), Madhya Pradesh (62), Kerala (38), Rajasthan (24) and Pondicherry (9).