Two more succumb to vector-borne disease

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 20

Two more persons have fallen prey to dengue in the national Capital taking the tally of deaths from the vector-borne disease this season to five.

The last two fatalities took place at city government-run Lok Nayak Jayaprakash (LNJP) Hospital which has alone reported over 860 cases of dengue and two deaths.

According to the latest municipal report, tabulated by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation, the number of people affected by the mosquito -borne disease this season till October 14 has reached 5,220.

A 12-year-old boy, who died due to dengue shock syndrome at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital on August, was the first victim in the Capital this year. Of the total 5,220 positive cases of dengue, 2,564 were residents of Delhi whereas the rest were from other states. Of the 2,564 Delhi cases, 757 were reported this month, as per the civic body.

Similarly till October 14 the figures of malaria and chikungunya stood at 1062 and 683 respectively. According to the report, in the capital mosquito breeding has been reported from 4,78,978 households this year.

Dengue and chikungunya are caused by the aedes aegypti mosquito, which breeds in clear water while the female anopheles mosquito, which causes malaria, can breed in fresh as well as muddy water.

Last year, around 20 deaths due to dengue were reported from various city hospitals even as the official data provided by the civic bodies stood at 10.

Seventeen people succumbed to malaria infection while at least 15 fatalities were reported last year due to complications triggered by chikungunya at a time when its official figure stood at zero.

Last year also saw one of the worst outbreaks of chikungunya when 12,221 people were suspected to have been affected by the infection till December.