First dengue death in Delhi, cases cross 100

NEW DELHI: The national capital reported its first confirmed dengue death this season, even as an alarming rise in fresh cases was witnessed on Thursday with 17 more patients testing positive for the disease, taking the total to 108.
    
"A death has been confirmed from the Delhi Cantonment area," said Dr V K Monga, Chairman of MCD's Public Health Committee.
    
"Besides, 17 fresh cases have also been reported from all over Delhi," Monga said.
    
While four cases were found in the Rohini (Outer) zone, three were reported from West Delhi and two each from Najafgarh, Central Delhi and Civil Lines.
    
The remaining four were reported from Shahadra North and Paharganj areas, Monga said.
    
A garrison engineer with the Military Engineering Service, Major Vikash Yadav (40), died at the Army Hospital, Research and Referral on Tuesday. It has been confirmed as a dengue death, officials said.
    
Despite the increasing number of afflictions, there is little chance the disease will take epidemic proportions, Monga said, adding the awareness and prevention drives launched by civic agencies will start showing results within a week.

Civic bodies have stepped up efforts to check mosquito breeding, with MCD Standing Committee Chairman Vijender Gupta directing the officials to ask domestic breeding checkers to give daily reports.
    
"They should take signatures of house owners to prove hat they have actually carried out the checking," he has said.
    
There is a need to fix accountability, Gupta said.