639 fresh dengue cases reported in Delhi on October 23, 24

At least 639 fresh cases of dengue were reported on October 23 and 24, taking the total count of people afflicted by the vector-borne fever in the city this year to an alarming 14,246, the highest since 1996.

The toll from the disease till October 24 was at 32, civic data said today even as there have been reports in the media of over 40 deaths due to dengue this year.

According to a municipal report on dengue today, north Delhi, at 4,937 cases, recorded the highest incidence of dengue this year followed by south Delhi with 4,091 cases. East Delhi recorded 2,773 cases.

Of all civic zones in the city, Najafgarh under South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) recorded the highest number of cases, 923.

That apart, 2,360 people who tested positive for the deadly disease came from outside of Delhi, including Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.

With the number of cases standing at 14,246, the dengue outbreak this year is the worst since 1996, when 10,252 people were affected with 423 persons succumbing to the disease.

The figure for this year had crossed the 1996-mark on October 10 itself, when data showed that 10,683 people had contracted the deadly virus.

Last year, the city had reported three deaths and recorded nearly 1,000 cases.

Till October 17, the number of houses found positive for mosquito breeding was 2,22,732 with prosecution launched for 21,493, said SDMC, which compiles the report on behalf of all the civic bodies.

In 2010, 6,259 total cases were recorded with only eight deaths officially reported while 2011 saw 1,131 cases. In 2012, over 2,000 cases were recorded and, in 2013, the number of cases stood at 5,574.