Delhi bitten by the dengue bug, alarm bells ringing

MOSQUITOES GALORE: People are aware that mosquitoes spread dengue but do little about prevention

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New Delhi: Delhi and in fact the entire National Capital Region (NCR) seems to be in the grips of Dengue.

The situation continues to be grim as this year Delhi has recorded the highest number of dengue cases in the last three years.

Delhi has recorded 109 dengue cases so far, including one death.

Municipal Corporation of Delhi has referred 150 to 200 cases to other states, as the patients came from there.

Gurgaon's dengue count has risen to 348 cases with two deaths.

Last year, Gurgaon had reported 36 cases around the same period this year, which shows there is an increase of nearly 800 per cent.

Experts say the reason for this spurt in dengue cases is the indifferent attitude of people show towards mosquito breeding. The neglect cuts across all sections, with similar attitudes being exhibited by people who live in shanties and those in posh colonies.

Health authorities are worried that the situation could worsen. AIIMS Professor Bir Singh said, “It spreads by the bite of a mosquito and these mosquitoes breed I and around the house. But people tend to neglect the accumulation.”

When the vector borne disease spreads, all that a well meaning person can do is take precautions.

One must wear full sleeves clothes while sleeping, check accumulation of water in or around the house and if water logging is unavoidable then spray kerosene, diesel or black oil on the area.

To know is to be well armed So to understand and identify the symptoms of the disease could benefit with early medical intervention.

“High temperature that starts abruptly along with severe headache, pain behind the eyes is a very peculiar symptom pertaining to Dengue,” warns Professor Bir Singh.

Help, care and guidance is available at the Heart Care Foundation of India in Delhi.

The Dengue helpline numbers are: (011) 9958771177.

The Gurgaon administration too has a dengue helpline in the civil hospital. The number is (0124) 4065534.

Affected citizens in Gurgaon are encouraged to contact the district malaria officer Dr Krishan Kumar on - 09899397029.