Delhi Witnesses Surge In Dengue Cases, More Than 400 Cases Reported In A Week
Delhi has reported 4,533 cases of dengue and three deaths this year, according to the Vector-Borne Diseases (VBD) report of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. The report also said that Delhi recorded a total of 9,266 cases of dengue in 2023 while the death toll was 19.
In November itself, 472 dengue cases were reported. The highest number of cases was recorded in October at 2,431. The report says that the highest number of dengue cases were recorded in Najafgarh, South Delhi, Shahdara (North), Karol Bagh and Central Delhi.
The report also stated the number of malaria cases that were recorded in Delhi. 728 cases of malaria were reported in Delhi with no deaths. The National Capital has also recorded 172 cases of Chikungunya till now.
According to the report, this year, the government has sprayed 23,61,013 houses and 2,74,290 houses have been found positive for mosquitos. It has also issued legal notices to 1,56,265 for Mosquitogenic conditions.
What is Dengue?
Dengue, also known as break-bone fever, is a viral infection that spreads from mosquitoes to people. The World Health Organisation says that mot people who get dengue will not have symptoms. But for those who do, the most common symptoms are high fever, headache, body aches, nausea, and rash. Most will get better in 1–2 weeks. Some people develop severe dengue and need care in a hospital.
In severe cases, dengue can be fatal. You can lower your risk of dengue by avoiding mosquito bites, especially during the day. Dengue is usually treated with pain medicine as there is no specific treatment currently.
WHO says that about half of the world’s population is now at risk of dengue with an estimated 100–400 million infections occurring each year.
Symptoms of Dengue
Here, take a look at some of the common symptoms of dengue.
- High fever (40°C/104°F)
- Severe headache
- Pain behind the eyes
- Muscle and joint pains
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Swollen glands
- Rash.
Here, take a look at some of the symptoms of severe dengue.
- Severe abdominal pain
- Persistent vomiting
- Rapid breathing
- Bleeding gums or nose
- Fatigue
- Restlessness
- Blood in vomit or stool
- Being very thirsty
- Pale and cold skin
- Feeling weak.
Prevention of Dengue
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Wear Protective Clothing: Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants and socks to reduce skin exposure.
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Use Insect Repellents: Apply repellents containing DEET or picaridin on exposed skin to deter mosquito bites.
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Get Rid of Breeding Sites: Remove stagnant water in containers like flower pots, buckets and tyres to prevent mosquito breeding.
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Use Mosquito Coils/Repellents Indoors: Use coils, plug-in-repellent devices, or sprays indoors to prevent mosquito bites.
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Use Mosquito Nets: Sleep under treated mosquito nets, especially in dengue-prone areas.
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Install Window Screens: Keep windows and doors closed or install screens to prevent mosquitoes from entering.
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Stay Indoors During Peak Mosquito Activity: Avoid being outdoors at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
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Maintain Cleanliness: Keep surroundings clean to avoid mosquito breeding grounds.
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