Malaria and chikungunya cases show drop, but doctors fear rise in dengue cases may worsen
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has confirmed three more dengue deaths, taking the total count for the year 2018 to four. The three deaths all occurred in the months of September and October, and had been reported by DNA previously, but is being admitted for the first time by the civic body.
The death of a 13-year-old girl from Wazirabad, who succumbed to dengue on September 18, was only confirmed by the MCD on Monday. Of the three confirmed deaths, two — 13-year-old Aman Tiwari and 21-year-old Sanskriti — were reported from South MCD, while one — 23-year-old Gagan — was from North MCD. All deaths occurred due to dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) which progressed to dengue shock syndrome, which led to a drop in the blood pressure and fluid collection in the chest and abdomen, which then affected other organs and became a cause for organ failure. DHF also caused internal bleeding in some cases, an MCD official said.
At least 251 fresh cases of dengue were reported by MCD last week, taking the total for the month of November to 1,062, the highest it has been in the last six years. The corresponding figures for 2017 and 2016 were 816 and 655 respectively.
Meanwhile, the total number of malaria and chikungunya cases are five and seven respectively. However, doctors and authorities fear that the cases might rise in the coming days. While dengue is showing a significant increase, malaria and chikungunya cases have dropped over the weeks.
"There is definitely a rise in dengue cases as compared to last month, but the situation is definitely better than last year," says Doctor SP Byotra, head of medicine, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. "It's strongly suggested that people keep their surroundings dry and free of mosquito breeding zones."
DENGUE IN NOVEMBER
- Dengue cases in November 2018 was the highest in six years.
- It went up from 444 in 2014 to 816 in 2017, and finally to 1,062 in 2018.
- This was also the first time in six years that dengue cases in the month crossed 1,000
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