Eight fresh cases of dengue have been reported in the city from December one despite the onset of winter, leaving medical experts and health officials worried as normally mosquito breeding subsides by mid-November.
According to Muncipal Corporation of Delhi’s Health Department, Safdurjung, Ram Manohar Lohia and some other hospitals reported new cases of dengue raising the number of such infected people to 6,229 this year out of which eight persons died.
Dr V K Monga, Health Committee Chairman of MCD said there were hardly any cases from mid-November last year during the winter spell.
“But this time, even in December hospitals are reporting dengue cases,” he said.
“Our domestic breeding checkers are finding mosquito breeding in overhead tanks and coolers even at this time of the season. It is a myth that mosquitoes die during winters,” he said.
A mosquito lays eggs, 200-250 at one go and three to four times in its lifetime of 27 days.
These eggs survive for the whole year.
“It is surprising that we are getting dengue cases now too. Though it is not as high as is reported during the peak season but then it clearly indicates that mosquito breeding is also happening in winters,” Dr R P Singh, a physician with Rockland hospital, said.
“We are getting blood samples which have been diagnosed to have dengue virus. Dengue situation is changing as it is being reported in countries that never had such cases ever. Winters are not the favoured season for such cases but then we are getting new cases of dengue fever,” Dr Narender Saini, Delhi Medical Association president and a pathologist said.
With dengue cases being reported till this time of the year, people should take all precautions prescribed by the government against mosquito breeding in their houses, Monga said.
The eggs laid by the mosquito do not die but survive through winter and when the temperature is conducive they grow into adult mosquitoes.
We have found mosquito breeding in many parts of the city in many coolers even now in winter, the entomologist said.
Monga said, “People should clean their coolers well. The walls should be mopped well as the eggs stick to the wall of the cooler. Just by clearing the water out of the cooler, mosquito breeding is not put to an end.”