Monsoon still months away, but Delhi sees at least 79 chikungunya, 24 dengue cases

New Delhi: Mosquito-borne diseases like dengue and chikungunya usually occur during monsoons, but looks like the viruses have arrived early this year to attack their human hosts.

As per a report on vector-borne diseases by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), at least 79 cases of chikungunya have been reported in the national capital as on April 8, 2017. The SDMC data also revealed that as many as 24 dengue and 13 malaria cases have been reported in Delhi in the last three months.

The figures revealed by the SDMC indicate that Delhi is seeing its highest number of vector-borne diseases in the corresponding period since 2012.

However, the report states that nine of the new cases of chikungunya reported in the national capital this week were from neighbouring states, and not from Delhi.

Although the number of cases is expected to drop with the rise in temperatures, officials warned that civic authorities need to act swiftly to prevent a 2016-like chikungunya outbreak, which was worst the city witnessed in the last 10 years.

In 2016, Delhi saw as many as 7,760 chikungunya and 4,431 dengue cases, with some fatalities reported in various city hospitals due to complications triggered by the vector-borne diseases.