Marking an alarming increase in dengue cases, 21 more cases of the disease were reported in the national capital on Thursday, taking the total this season to 188.
NEW DELHI: Marking an alarming increase in dengue cases, 21 more cases of the disease were reported in the national capital on Thursday, taking the total this season to 188 even as some 2,500 mosquito breeding checking staff continued their strike demanding regularisation of jobs.
"Twenty-one fresh cases of dengue have been reported from various parts of the city. With this, the total number of cases has reached 188," MCD Public Health Committee Chairman V K Monga said.
While five cases have been reported from Najafgarh, three cases each have been detected in Rohini, Sadar Paharganj and Karol Bagh zones of MCD, he said. Other cases have been found in West and Shahdara North and South zones.
Compounding the problem for civic authorities, domestic breeding checkers (DBCs), employed with the MCD on contract basis, continued to stay away from work demanding regularisation of their jobs.
MCD Standing Committee Chairman Vijender Gupta termed the action as "blackmailing tactics".
"We acknowledge the important role the DBCs play in preventing vector-borne diseases. But September-October is the peak time for dengue cases. Going on a strike now does not reflect a right attitude," Gupta said.
"They are on contract with us till November. We will review the situation and decide what action to be taken after that.. whether they would be given contract again...no body can force us," Gupta said.
"Regularising their jobs is not legally possible. We still offered them a proposal that they will be regularised later as health workers, but they are adamant in their demand," Monga said.
About one-third of the DBCs have returned to work, he said.
The DBCs on Thursday also staged a sit-in near the MCD headquarters in Town Hall.
Gupta maintained that though the strike has posed a problem, the civic body's efforts in preventing the disease has been "satisfactory".
"The unusually long rainy season and high temperature is to blame for the spurt in cases," he said.
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