Despite a decrease in temperature, Delhi continues to report new dengue cases. According to civic officials, the city recorded 63 new cases last week, bringing the total annual count to 1,199 cases as of Monday.
The weekly report on vector-borne diseases indicated that there were 26 malaria cases and nine chikungunya cases reported last week, raising the annual totals to 649 and 142, respectively. So far, the capital has confirmed only two dengue-related deaths, while the status of the remaining 13 cases is still under review by the death audit committee.
A senior official from the MCD stated that with the recent drop in temperature, a decrease in case numbers is anticipated. “The minimum temperature has already fallen to around 10°C. The conditions for adult mosquitoes in open environments are becoming less favorable. However, with relatively warmer indoor temperatures, mosquitoes may continue to survive within homes,” the official added.
The MCD report also noted that the city has recorded 401 cases where the infection was contracted from other states, 1,293 cases with incorrect or incomplete addresses, and 307 cases where the attending physician could not be located. Compared to previous years, Delhi has experienced relatively low case numbers during this period, with 4,061 dengue cases in 2024, 5,241 cases in 2023, and 1,855 cases in 2022.
On Wednesday, Delhi’s minimum temperature was recorded at 10.4°C, which is three degrees below the normal range. The previous day, it was 10.2°C. Over the course of a week, the minimum temperature has dropped by 8°C, having been 18.4°C on November 5. Forecasts suggest that the minimum temperature may decrease further, potentially falling below 10°C on Friday.
Dengue is a viral infection that is transmitted to humans by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. While most individuals infected with dengue do not exhibit symptoms, those who do typically suffer from high fever, headaches, body aches, nausea, and rashes. Most recover within one to two weeks; however, severe cases can be life-threatening due to hemorrhagic fever, which leads to internal bleeding and a sudden drop in blood pressure, potentially resulting in death.
Last week, MCD announced that two individuals have succumbed to complications related to dengue. The first case involved a 9-year-old boy from the Shalimar Bagh locality, while the second case was a 48-year-old man from the Dilshad Garden area, according to officials.
Dengue fatalities in the city are not included in the official dengue death toll, as all such cases are reviewed by a death review committee. This committee evaluates instances of suspected dengue-related deaths among Delhi residents and those who traveled to Delhi from neighboring states for treatment, as well as the comorbid conditions that contributed to the fatalities.
