Dengue in Delhi including Do's/Dont's

Out of the total 277 cases, 118 have been reported in North Delhi Municipal Corporation, which is worst hit and is followed by South Delhi with 82 cases and East Delhi with 19 cases. The number of malaria cases although not high has reached 21 this season.

Dengue follows a cyclic trend, and the number of cases rises every 3 – 5 years. It is a vector-borne disease transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes caused by four different types of viruses. The number of cases increase as the season changes and becomes more apt for the breeding of mosquitoes. Accumulated water in drains and other places becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Dengue is characterised by flu-like symptoms like a headache, fever, muscle and joint pain. It affects everyone and at times can be fatal. There is no vaccine currently available against the disease, and hence it becomes necessary to prevent it by following a few tips.

1. Don’t accumulate or store water in buckets, drums, flower pots. Use the water up or empty them as soon as possible. If you cannot throw the water cover it up entirely.
2. Use mosquito repellents or sleep under mosquito nets. If someone at home is suffering from dengue, ensure that there are no mosquitoes in the house. You can use natural mosquito repellents like camphor or keep a tulsi plant near your window. Tulsi prevents the breeding of mosquitoes.
3. Do not keep your doors and windows open. Dengue mosquitoes bite in the morning and hence prevent mosquitoes from entering your house during the day. Make sure your doors and windows have a safety net that does not have any holes in it. If they do, fix them up instantly.
4. If anyone at home is exhibiting the symptoms of dengue, consult a doctor immediately. more