Delhi civic body confirms first dengue case in city

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) today confirmed the first case of dengue in the city this year after a doctor from AIIMS tested positive for the vector-borne disease here.

On March 3, Dr Anoop Singh, a PG student of AIIMS tested positive for dengue after he was admitted in the hospital when he complained of abrupt fever along with headaches and pain.

Singh contracted the disease during his stay in the doctors' hostel, Dr VK Monga, chairman of the MCD's public health committee said.

"It is surprising that the first case of dengue is being reported with the early onset of summers. Last year the first dengue case was reported in June which continued till mid-December," he said.

Another doctor from Ghaziabad, Dr Umakant also tested positive for dengue after he was admitted in AIIMS on March 3, Dr Monga said.

"Almost every year the first and the last positive case of dengue fever are heard from within the AIIMS premises. This calls for proper sanitation in the residential areas of resident doctors and medical students. We have decided to write to the AIIMS administration to work together with the NDMC and CPWD to channelise some method to stop the spread of the disease," he said.

Last year, a total of 6,229 dengue cases and eight deaths due to dengue fever was reported from the city. Eight fresh cases of dengue were reported in the national capital in December 2010 despite the onset of winter, leaving medical experts and health officials worried as mosquito breeding normally subsides by mid-November.

Dr Monga said, "People should be conscious of their surroundings from now onwards and should check mosquito breeding. While cleaning their coolers they should swipe the walls well so that no egg stays back in the cooler and fertilise."