Rains in Delhi may lead to spurt in dengue cases

Showers might lead to water accumulation on rooftops, and other spots, which facilitates breeding of mosquitoes

Overnight showers in the national capital and prediction of more rains has triggered an alarm among health officials, with experts warning that the dengue situation might worsen.

According to experts, the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits the dengue virus to humans, breeds in clean water and the showers might lead to water accumulation on rooftops, and other spots.

"When intermittent rains take place, common diseases which pose risk to people are dengue, malaria and chikungunia. At a time when hospitals are already grappling with shortage of beds with more patients approaching them for treatment for dengue, it might be an alarming situation," a senior doctor at AIIMS said.

Another doctor at RML Hospital shared his concern, calling upon the civic bodies to be more efficient in ensuring that water doesn't collect at places.

"This is really a matter of concern as already hospitals are flooded with patients and health centres are groaning with shortages of beds, people have to be sensitised too. Also MCD should check mosquito breeding at the sensitive places," he said.

"Civic bodies will have to intensify checking of mosquito breeding grounds as puddles near houses and office buildings are major risks," he added.

According to MCD officials, they have been regularly sending people from door-to-door for the mosquito breeding checks.

"If there is any collection of water amywhere, we will step up our measures there. The residents should also take precautions," they said.

Charan Singh, Nodal Officer said, "To tackle this issue door-to-door awareness campaign and active volunteer participation is necessary and there is need to take on board NGOs too for the purpose. The approach has to be wholesome to tackle the menace".

Four more persons succumbed to dengue in the capital yesterday, taking the death toll to 20, prompting the Delhi government to approve nearly 800 additional beds in 48 private hospitals.

Facing criticism for failing to control the situation, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had reached out to the Opposition parties seeking their suggestions to deal with the crisis.