The Hindu : New Delhi News : Fears of dengue outbreak loom large: MCD

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Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008
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New Delhi

Fears of dengue outbreak loom large: MCD

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Fall in day and night temperatures due to early onset of the monsoon and critically high mosquito breeding indices being recorded in several areas across the Capital have once again given rise to fears of a dengue outbreak looming large over Delhi. In the light of this development, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi on Tuesday said it is initiating a series of measures to prevent vector-borne diseases.

High breeding index

A mosquito breeding index above 10 per cent is considered critical and it warns of an impending dengue outbreak. The National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi teams have recorded dangerously high breeding indices at Model Town–III (17.8), Shadipur Depot (27.7), Gulab Vihar Apartments, Rohini (17.7), Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya Deputy Ganj (13.6), New Kondli (23), Saini Enclave (17) and Sinduran Kalan Quarters (14).

The MCD said that despite a special communication by its Commissioner to several government offices, educational institutions and market associations on the need to take preventive measures, municipal squads have found high mosquito breeding in several police station areas such as Hauz Khas, Prasad Nagar, Lodhi Colony and Sriniwaspuri and even Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital, Swami Dayanand Hospital, Escorts Hospital and Sriniwaspuri CGHS Dispensary. ``Mosquitogenic” conditions have also been found prevailing at the BBM bus depot workshop, Central workshop Okhla depot and Prasad Nagar BSES Office.

The MCD health department’s teams claim to have visited over 69 lakh houses to check mosquito breeding and 22,921 of these were detected having mosquito breeding. Over 24,000 people have been issued legal notices and about a thousand have been served challans.

Regular meetings

Besides, MCD health department officials have been holding regular meetings with members of residents’ welfare associations and launched a campaign to create awareness among masses. “Dengue month” is also being observed in all municipal wards.

Free diagnostic and treatment facilities are being made available for dengue and chikungunya in over 30 government hospitals that have been designated as sentinel surveillance hospitals for these diseases.

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