489 dengue cases recorded in Delhi

New Delhi, Nov 6: Twenty five new dengue cases were recorded in Delhi Friday, taking the number of people affected by the vector-borne disease to 489, health officials said.

The Delhi government has appointed a nodal officer to whom all dengue cases will be reported by government and private hospitals.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi attributed the rise in dengue cases to stagnant water found at the various under-construction Commonwealth Games sites in the city.

"There are water storages left open at construction sites across Delhi. Many have been notified as breeding areas. We have warned contractors and they should take appropriate action. This is a matter of concern for the MCD," MCD's Chief Medical Officer N.K. Yadav told IANS.

"There were 25 fresh cases of dengue confirmed today (Friday). This takes the total number of cases to 489," Yadav said.

The civic agency has laid out an action plan to take strict action to check breeding of mosquitoes that transmit the disease.

"We have prepared information pamphlets and these will be circulated among residents. After the initial period to create awareness, from next week we are going to step up penalising offenders," Yadav said.

The Delhi government has also taken steps to contain dengue fever.

Elaborating the steps, Delhi government Health Minister Kiran Walia announced that Dr Charan Singh has been appointed 'State Nodal Officer' as part of the government's efforts to tackle the spread of dengue fever in the capital.

"The information about the dengue patients will be provided to the nodal officer with immediate effect every day by noon," Walia informed.

"It has been made mandatory for all public and private hospitals to give details of the dengue cases to the state nodal officer," said Walia, adding that health authorities have been asked to check, prevent and control dengue and take immediate steps to curb the menace.

Till Oct 31, MCD staff had found mosquitoes breeding in 44,107 houses.

"Legal notices were issued to 45,168 people and prosecution action was initiated against 4,963," Yadav said.

Until now, there have been two deaths due to the disease - of a 15-year-old boy and a nine-year-old boy.