NEW DELHI: Amid a spurt in dengue cases in the national capital, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said a plan has been devised to combat the vector-borne disease. In coming days, several steps will be taken and school students will be involved in a big way in the efforts made to check the spread of dengue, he said. He said this after holding a meeting with senior officials of the health department, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and other departments.
Delhi has registered a huge spurt in dengue cases in the last couple of weeks, raising the tally of the vector-borne disease to nearly 400 till September 17 this year. Over 100 people were diagnosed with the infection in the period from September 9-17.
According to a civic body report released on Monday, 152 dengue cases have been reported in this month alone till September 17.Kejriwal said, “The rainy season spell has lasted longer this time. Dengue threat can increase. In coming days, several steps will be taken. School students will be involved in a big way.” The city had recorded 295 dengue cases till September 9. Out of the 396 total cases recorded till September 17 this year, 75 were reported in August. No death has been reported so far this year.
Cases of vector-borne diseases are usually reported between July and November, sometimes stretching till mid-December. Civic officials said dengue cases were recorded earlier than usual this year due to weather conditions that are congenial for mosquito breeding. Rains continued to lash Delhi for the third consecutive day on Saturday, causing traffic snarls at some places in the morning as the minimum temperature settled at 22.6 degrees Celsius.
NEARLY 400 DENGUE CASES REPORTED TILL SEPT 17
Delhi has registered a huge spurt in dengue cases in the last couple of weeks, raising the tally of the vector-borne disease to nearly 400 till September 17 this year. Over 100 people were diagnosed with the infection in the period from September 9-17. No death has been reported so far this year.