At least 21 cases of malaria have been reported in the first four days of July in Delhi, taking the total number of people affected by the vector-borne disease in the city this season to 109, according to a municipal report released today.
Two cases of malaria were reported in February, one each in April and March, 17 in May, 25 in June, 42 in July and 21 till August 4, according to the report released by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), which tabulates data on vector-borne diseases for the city.
Of the total 56 dengue cases this season, seven were reported till August 4, 19 were reported in July, six in January, three in February, one in March, two in April, 10 in May and eight in June.
Two fresh cases of chikungunya have also been reported in the last week, taking the total number of people affected this season to 37.
A senior doctor at a government-run facility said both dengue and malaria have different carriers. Therefore, it is not unusual for malaria cases to be reported in larger number compared to dengue.
He advised people to take all precautions, like wearing full-sleeve clothes and not allowing breeding of mosquito larvae inside homes.
"Water coolers should be dried up when not in use as dengue infection carrying mosquitoes breed there a lot. Mosquito nets should be used at home," the doctor said.
The cases of vector-borne diseases are usually reported between July and November, but the period may stretch to mid-December.
No vector-borne disease case was reported till January 13.
The report said domestic breeding checkers have found mosquito breeding in 77,272 households in the city till August 4.
It said 77,508 legal notices have been served for various violations and "9,292 prosecutions have been initiated".
On June 28, Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal had directed local bodies and other agencies to intensify vector control measures.
He had also asked for regular meetings at the level of district magistrates with all stakeholders to review the situation in their respective districts.
According to the SDMC, 10 people died due to dengue in Delhi last year, of whom five were not residents of the national capital, they died here.
Overall, the vector-borne disease had affected 9,271 people in the city last year.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)