New Delhi: The cases of dengue shot up to
945 in the national capital on Thursday, triggering concerns among
municipal councillors who feared the figure could be much more
than reported and said the civic officials should work in
"war-footing" to prevent the spread of the disease.
The city has reported more than 300 cases of dengue in
the past nine days.
"With 32 fresh positive cases of dengue, the total has
reached 945. There are 13 cases in which the infection has
been contracted from outside Delhi," MCD's Municipal Health
Officer N K Yadav said.
According to MCD, the city has reported two dengue deaths
so far. On October 23, a 15-year-old boy succumbed to the
disease at AIIMS while a nine-year-old boy breathed his last
at the LNJP hospital on October 26.
The issue was raised in a meeting of the MCD Standing
Committee today with opposition Congress leader J K Sharma
alleging that fogging operations and mosquito breeding
checking are not being done regularly. Both Sharma and ruling
BJP councillor Vijender Gupta felt the cases could be much
more than reported.
"We should focus on how to provide relief to the people
as they are in panic. The areas where dengue cases have been
reported should get special priority. If breeding is found in
the same area within 15 days of a case being reported, then it
is failure on the officials' part," Gupta said.
Civic officials said unless the temperature dips in the
city, the spread of the disease will be hard to contain. When
winter fully sets in, it will be much helpful, they said.
The minimum temperature was 12 degrees Celsius today. The
minimum was hovering between 16 and 14 degrees last week.
"Steps should be taken in war-footing to prevent the
spread of the disease," Gupta said. He was supported by a
number of councillors.
Members said more fogging machines should be acquired and
breeding checkers employed. Senior officials should carry out
inspections in various areas, they said.
Standing Committee chairman R K Singhal said officials
should coordinate with councillors and take necessary steps.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, November 19, 2009, 18:58