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Dengue tightens its grip in Delhi

     New Delhi: Dengue continues to spread in the Capital and the number of affected persons was 805. The health department of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has warned that the peak period is likely to continue till November 15. "In Delhi, we have received about 805 cases so far, 554 are residents of Delhi. The rest of the patients are from outside Delhi. There have been 8 deaths, four in Delhi and four in surrounding areas," said Mukesh Goyal, Chairman, Standing Committee, MCD. "When there are more people living close to each other, the disease gets transmitted faster," said Dr Shahid Jameel, Virologist, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology. However, authorities in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, say the situation is under control. "The casualties are only four from Delhi. And this is a clear indication that we have been successful in controlling the disease," C.P. Singh, Deputy Municipal Health Officer, MCD. He added, "Currently, 3,000 health workers are engaged in checking and disinfecting places where mosquitoes can breed in residential areas, government and private offices. We are also using insecticide to control the breeding, especially in unused water in coolers," he said. During the same period last year, 439 dengue cases had been reported. Of these 278 were residents of Delhi. In 2003, when Delhi witnessed a dengue epidemic the Capital had reported 2,539 cases during the same period. Out of these 528 patients were from outside Delhi.