The Pioneer 25.08.2010
‘Dengue a trend which repeats every 4th year’
Sana Shakil | New Delhi
The recent surge in the dengue cases in the national Capital this year is due to a cyclic trend, which repeats itself once in four years. According to Municipal Health Officer NK Yadav, this is the 4th year and thus cases of dengue are in surge.
“Every viral disease has a cyclic trend and dengue viral has a four-year cycle during which the disease assumes dangerous proportions. This year, the number of cases being recorded is high as the disease follows its cycle and this is the 4th year,” said Yadav. Earlier, in 2002 and 2006, Delhi had experienced similar kind of situation.
On Tuesday, 43 patients were tested positive for dengue in the Capital and with this, the total number of cases has reached 496. Half of the total dengue patients are said to be in the age group of 15-30 years.
According to MCD statistics, last year till this time, the number of dengue cases was only three. The figure was 60 in 2008 and 15 in 2007.
Out of the 43 cases, eight cases have been reported from MCD South zone, followed by six each in Central zone, Shahdara (North) and Civil Lines zone. Among the total 496 cases so far, 392 have been reported from MCD areas, 73 from NDMC areas and the rest were from other parts of the city and outstation cases. MCD South zone reported the highest of 102 cases closely followed by Central zone with 90. Authorities have assured that officials are doing their best to curb this menace and extra staff has been appointed to look into the issue. Earlier, the appointment of extra staff used to take place in June, but this year it was appointed in April itself.
“We have already advertised on television, radio, set hoardings at various public places like Metro stations, railway stations, bus stops and other places. Public announcements are also being made to create awareness,” said Yadav.
He said even schoolchildren are being given dengue homework cards to help them know symptoms and steps to prevent the disease.
Yadav added Delhiites are suffering more because of the unhealthy conditions prevailing in the city, but mosquitoes are breeding in their homes as well. “We require their co-operation,” he appealed. Municipal authorities had earlier served notices to 45,532 residents and organisations after dengue larvae were found breeding openly in homes, back-lanes, drains and on roadsides.
With hardly 39 days left for the Games, dengue has become a cause of concern for the authorities. What is more worrying is that even during October, the Capital can see the high prevalence of dengue, as, according to health officials, the city is prone to the disease until November.
