Chikungunya spread: Satyendar Jain meets Kejriwal; Sisodia promises intensive fogging

Amid spread of Chikungunya, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Tuesday held a meeting with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and apprised him that the Delhi High Court had last year asked the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to take steps to prevent spread of the disease.

Talking to ANI, Satyendar said at the meeting, CM Kejriwal accused MCD of not carrying out fogging the way it should have been done, and he asked him to get it done properly.

Meanwhile, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia held a press conference to announce that he will ensure that dengue, chikungunya and malaria in Delhi are kept under check through intensive fogging in all areas.

"Every lane of Delhi will have fogging on alternate days. Our Delhi government will activate 100 machines from day after tomorrow. Till 26th September, 600 machines will do continuous fogging till one month. From morning till late night, we will do fogging work," he said.

Sisodia spoke about how flogging will be used till the end of October to remove all mosquitoes. He further mentioned that although this work is under the jurisdiction of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), still the Delhi government will co-operate with the MCD to push the agenda to fight these vector-borne diseases all over Delhi.

"Although fogging and sanitation is the work of MCD, but it is a crisis situation, "he added.

Speaking on how a comprehensive plan can only help fight vector borne diseases in Delhi, Sisodia said, "A comprehensive plan has to be made where on one hand, there is intensive fogging plan, every nook and corner is being cleaned in Delhi and silt on the roads is removed. With this we all can come together to fight dengue, chikungunya and malaria in Delhi and also make it safe for the future."

Several cases of dengue and chikungunya have been reported from all over Delhi in different hospitals. Sir Ganga Ram Hospital has admitted 100 patients who have tested positive for chikungunya and 39 tested positive for dengue. Five deaths from chikungunya complications were reported till yesterday at Apollo Hospital here, most of the victims were aged 80 or above. AIIMS laboratories have tested 1,443 chikungunya blood test samples positive till September 13. At the Centre-run Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, 425 chikungunya cases have been reported this season while 112 have been diagnosed with dengue. At Safdarjung Hospital, also Centre-run, 536 chikungunya cases and 342 dengue cases have been confirmed this season.