Dengue, malaria on the rise in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Cases of dengue continue to increase in spite of high temperature. In the past week, municipal corporation report shows that 21 cases of the mosquito-borne disease have been reported in the city.

The total number of dengue cases has gone up to 40, while malaria and chikungunya cases have gone up to 30 and 96 respectively.

While dengue and chikungunya viruses are spre ad by Aedes aegypti mosquito that breeds in fresh water, malaria is spread by the anopheles mosquito that can breed in dirty water.

Last year, 4,431 cases of dengue and 7,760 cases of chikungunya were reported in Delhi. Several people died due to the diseases but they could not make it to official figure because the state government and corporations cited co-morbidities in such patients as reason behind the mortality .

Experts say that early ac tion against mosquito-breeding is the only way to prevent outbreaks, which have become common in places like Delhi. Large-scale construction, poor upkeep overhead tanks and inefficient solid waste management have been found to be main culprits.