Dengue spreads its wings early this year in Delhi

At least 12 cases of dengue have been reported in Delhi so far this year, including two in the first week of April, indicating the early spread of the virus carrying the vector-borne disease in the national Capital.

Of all the cases reported till April 7, six were recorded in January, three in February and one last month, according to the latest municipal report released said on Monday.

The cases of vector-borne diseases are usually reported between mid-July and November-end, but this period may stretch up to mid-December. "Three cases each of malaria and chikungunya, have been reported, while in January none of the cases of both the diseases were reported," according to the report.

There were no cases of any vector-borne disease till January 13. At least 10 people had died in Delhi due to dengue last year, according to the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), which tabulates data for the entire city. Five of the 10 victims were not Delhi residents but had died in the national capital.

Overall, the vector-borne disease had affected 9,271 people here in 2017.

The official toll maintained by the Delhi municipal authorities till December 26 had stood at four, even though some hospitals had reported a few more deaths due to dengue. The mosquito-borne tropical disease had claimed its first victim in the city last year on August 1, when a 12-year-old boy died of dengue shock syndromes at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

The numbers of malaria and chikungunya cases recorded in 2017 stood at 1,142 and 940, respectively. Of the 9,271 dengue cases, 4,726 patients were from Delhi, while 4,545 had come to the city from other states for treatment, according to the SDMC.