July 31, 2023
Delhi, India
The capital city of India, Delhi, is grappling with a steep rise in dengue cases, with 56 new cases reported last week, bringing the total count to 243 cases for the year 2023. This number marks the highest count of dengue cases in the last six years. Comparatively, the city had reported 169 cases during the same period in 2022, 52 cases in 2021, 31 in 2020, 40 cases in 2019, and 56 cases in 2018.
The surge in cases has caught the attention of health officials, who are attributing the increase to various factors. Firstly, parts of the city have experienced flooding and waterlogging over the last month, providing breeding grounds for mosquitoes that carry the dengue virus. Additionally, dengue was declared a notifiable disease last year, leading to better reporting from healthcare institutions, hence capturing more cases than before.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has been at the forefront of monitoring the outbreak. The zonal distribution of the cases reveals that 129 cases have emerged in MCD areas, 17 in NDMC region, 12 cases in Delhi cantonment areas, five under Railways, while 80 cases remain untraced after investigation. The west zone, South zone, and Najafgarh zones have reported the maximum number of cases within the MCD jurisdiction.
Of particular concern is the finding that 19 out of 20 samples of the dengue virus were identified as type 2 dengue, which is considered more dangerous. Health authorities have emphasized that there is no direct medicine for dengue and are focused on managing the complications that arise with the disease.
To address the escalating situation, the Delhi government has announced a vector-borne disease control action plan, incorporating innovative measures such as deploying drones for mosquito surveillance and control in vulnerable areas. The existing 1031 helpline number, which was utilized during the COVID pandemic for dengue treatment, will also be used to raise awareness about dengue prevention. Furthermore, ASHA workers will be enlisted to disseminate information on preventive measures.
However, amidst the government’s efforts, the city is facing worker strikes. The Domestic Breeding Checkers (DBCs), public health department workers responsible for detecting mosquito breeding sites and implementing mosquito control measures, have organized a general strike. The DBC union is demanding payment of pending salaries and the regularisation of services as permanent workers of the corporation. The lack of fulfillment of written assurances from a previous strike has fueled their discontent.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has taken notice of the situation and reviewed the city’s dengue preparedness. As part of its efforts to curb mosquito breeding, the government has increased fines for unchecked mosquito breeding to ₹1000 for households and ₹5000 for commercial establishments.
Experts stress that controlling the disease at its source is vital. Preventing mosquito breeding and bites is the primary approach to combatting dengue. Citizens are urged to take necessary precautions and follow health guidelines to safeguard against the outbreak.
With the city experiencing a concerning surge in dengue cases and worker strikes adding to the challenges, a collaborative effort between the government, healthcare institutions, and citizens becomes essential to mitigate the impact of the disease and protect public health in Delhi.
