Delhi: Rise in cases of dengue, malaria 'seasonal'

New Delhi: Amid the rise in the cases of dengue and malaria in Delhi, a doctor in a government hospital on Tuesday said it is seasonal.

"The rise in cases of dengue and malaria in the national capital is seasonal," Dr. Harsh Bhardwaj of the Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital told IANS in response to a query on the rapid rise in cases of dengue and malaria in Delhi.

He, however, cautioned people to take preventive measures to keep themselves safe from dengue, malaria and other vector-borne diseases.

"The main reason for the rise in cases of vector-borne diseases is the weather itself. The weather is rainy, which leads to the collection of water, which provides an easy breeding ground for vectors. So, there is an increased rate of transmission," Bhardwaj said.

Talking about the precautions, he said: "People should not eat in unhygienic places. They should not let the water be collected in receptacles and tyres, which leads to the breeding of mosquitoes. Spraying disinfectant is also important.

"There has been an increase in the number of cases. Normally, in this season, the number of cases of fever rises. Fever can be due to typhoid , dengue, malaria and chikungunya. There is a functional fever clinic in the GTB Hospital. We have adequate arrangements to deal with the patient," Bhardwaj said.

According to a report issued by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi on Monday, 105 new cases of dengue, 13 cases of malaria and one chikungunya were reported in Delhi in the past one week.

The total cases of dengue reported till August 5 this year stood at 348, malaria 85 and chikungunya, 15.