September dengue cases lowest in 6 years, Delhi government keeping guard up, says health minister Satyendar Jain

NEW DELHI: Delhi’s health minister Satyendar Jain on Wednesday said that September 2021 has recorded the least number of dengue cases when compared to the same period in the last six years. He also said that Delhi government’s “10 Hafte 10 Din 10 Minute” campaign is effectively aiding in prevention of dengue in the national capital.

“The number of dengue cases recorded up till now is the lowest in comparison to the previous years,” Jain said in a press briefing. He said that while a total number of 87 cases of dengue were reported in Delhi in September, 2021 till this Sunday, the number of cases in September, 2020 was 188, 190 in 2019 and 374 in 2018. The number of cases in the previous years was much higher, with September, 2017 recording 1,103 cases, 1,362 in 2016 and 6,775 in September 2015.

“Delhi government has been taking preventive measures to keep the spread of dengue under control, especially the launch of the ‘10 Hafte 10 Din 10 Minute’ campaign to spread awareness about dengue has been successful for the past two years,” Jain said. “Delhiites have been cooperative to not leave stagnant water around residential areas unattended for the mosquitoes to breed,” he said.

Jain said that the life cycle of a dengue mosquito is about 10 days and people should check for any stagnant water around their homes once a week for 10 minutes. “All that has to be done is empty the vessels, flower vases, and containers containing stagnant water so that they don't become breeding grounds for the dengue-causing mosquitoes,” he said.