Dengue threat looms large over CWG Games

With only a few days to go for CWG, number of cases of dengue continue to rise steadily.

The cleaning and beautification of the city started nearly six months ago, but the ugly side that perhaps escaped the attention of civic agencies, at least initially, was the threat of dengue that arrives every year with the onset of monsoon

The number of cases has increased to 157 till date, with 17 fresh cases reported. According to MCD officials, the number is already more than last year. "If we follow the trend, the number is three to four times more than 2009", said Dr N K Yadav, health officer, MCD.

According to city doctors, ongoing construction in the city is the reason for the rise in number of dengue cases. "As the city has been dug up badly in many places, rain water collects in these areas. The stagnant water is responsible for more mosquito breeding," said Dr K K Aggarwal, a physician at Moolchand Hospital.

However, MCD officials refuse to blame the Games projects for the increase in the number of cases. "Mosquito breeding and rainfall is the reason of dengue, CWG constructions are not the reason for the rise in number" said Yadav.

MCD sources said the 17 new cases are not from areas near construction sites.

Meanwhile, the chairman of health committee, officials from Delhi and central government along with MCD officials did an inspection of the CWG village behind Akshardham temple. It was discovered that the drain of the basement served as a mosquito breeding ground. The officials have asked the DDA to get the potholes filled up with soil.

Doctors feel that citizens can make a difference by not allowing stagnation of water.

Demystifying Dengue

Dengue fever is a disease caused by a family of viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes. It is an acute illness of sudden onset that usually follows a benign course with symptoms such as headache, fever, exhaustion, severe muscle and joint pain, swollen glands (lymphadenopathy), and rash. The presence (the 'dengue triad') of fever, rash, and headache (and other pains) is particularly characteristic of dengue. Other signs of dengue fever include bleeding gums, severe pain behind the eyes, and red palms and soles. Dengue is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, particularly A. aegypti and A. albopictus.Dengue may also be transmitted via infected blood products  and in countries such as Singapore, where dengue is endemic, the risk was estimated to be between 1.6 and 6 per 10,000 blood transfusions.The WHO  says some 2.5 billion people, are now at risk from dengue and estimates that there may be 50 million cases of dengue infection worldwide every year. The disease is now endemic in more than 100 countries.

Source: http://www.mid-day.com/