Spike in dengue, chikungunya cases: Delhi HC to continue hearing in vector-borne menace matter today

New Delhi: With the national capital witnessing a surge in the number of dengue and chikungunya cases, the Delhi High Court will on Tuesday continue hearing a suo motu cognizance by the court, seeking action by the government and civic authorities to stop the spread of vector-borne diseases.

On May 16, the High Court had pulled up the Centre, the Delhi Government and the civic agencies for failing to take appropriate steps in regard to combating the spread of mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and malaria.

Taking a dig at all the three authorities, the court said that mosquitoes don't wait for meetings and asked the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to conduct mapping of vulnerable areas where dengue and chikungunya cases have occurred.

Earlier this month, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal issued directions for a comprehensive plan to make the national capital mosquito free.

The Delhi government had also asked all the public hospitals to increase 10 to 20 percent beds for the fever patients.

At least 96 cases of chikungunya have been reported in Delhi this year, with 10 of them being recorded this month.

According to the latest municipal report released on Monday, the national also reported 40 cases of dengue till May 27, even though the season for vector-borne diseases in Delhi is between July and December.

In 2016, Delhi saw its first ever chikungunya outbreak that affected 9,661 people. In 2015, 16,000 dengue cases were reported and 60 people lost their lives to the disease.

(With Agencies input)