Malaria spreads its wings, 93 cases reported in Sept

New Delhi, September 16

The number of malaria cases in the Capital this year has mounted to nearly 250 with at least 93 of those being reported in the first two weeks of September, according to a municipal report released on Monday. 

This is by far the maximum number of malaria cases recorded in any month this year. The number of dengue cases reported till September 14 stands at 171, according to the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), which tabulates the data on vector-borne diseases in the city. 

Malaria cases have outstripped those of dengue in the Capital for the past several weeks. As many as 56 malaria cases were reported in August, 54 in July, 35 in June, eight in May and a single case in April. In September, 79 cases of dengue have been recorded, 52 in August, 18 in July, 11 in June, and rest between January and May, the report said. 

According to the report, at least 60 cases of chikungunya have also been reported this year. Past year, 2,798 dengue cases and four deaths were recorded by the SDMC. 

Both the Delhi Government and local bodies have been making efforts to raise awareness on precautions to ensure that there is no breeding of mosquito larvae around them. 

The government has started an anti-dengue campaign ‘10Hafte 10Baje 10Minute’ urging people to inspect their house for any standing water. The campaign — from September 1 and November 15 — to combat dengue has garnered support from several personalities, including cricket legend Kapil Dev, many Bollywood actors and well-known journalists. 

Dengue mosquito larvae breed in clear, standing water while those of malaria mosquito thrive even in dirty water. Doctors have advised people to take precautions and ensure that there is no breeding of mosquito larvae around them. — PTI

Preventive methods

• Both the Delhi Government and local bodies have been making efforts to raise awareness on precautions
• Mosquito-breeding has been reported in at least 1,19,852 households and 99,448 legal notices have been issued this year
• The anti-dengue campaign urges people to inspect their house for stagnant water as dengue mosquito larvae breed in clear, standing water while those of malaria thrive even in dirty water.