The number of dengue cases in the capital crossed the 1,000-mark with 77 fresh cases reported on Wednesday. The MCD also reportedly issued challans to the Escorts Hospital for mosquito breeding in its premises.
According to the MCD, the total number of cases, including the ones in which patients had come from outside the city, stood at 1,014. Compared to the previous years, this year the number of 1,000 has been crossed within three months when, even in years which are considered bad for dengue, the 1,000-mark was crossed only at the fag end of the season. In 2006, when the number of dengue cases had reached a total of 3,366 along with 38 deaths, the number of cases by August-end was only 40. In 2010, the number was 741, which has quickly jumped in last couple of days to cross the 1,000-mark. At this rate, the possibility of the total number of cases crossing 5,000-mark is not been ruled out. The total number of deaths due to dengue so far has been three. Meanwhile, the MCD in its ongoing process of keeping a check on anti-dengue measures issued challans to Escorts Hospital where at least seven spots were found to have been conducive for mosquito breeding.
Authorities are worried as the city will host the Games in October, a month which generally sees high incidence of the disease.