Delhi reports first dengue case this year

Delhi reported its first case of dengue this year with a 27-year-old man testing positive for the vector-borne disease at a private hospital here, health officials said Tuesday.

Naval Kishore, a resident of Malviya Nagar in south Delhi, tested positive for dengue Saturday at the Fortis Hospital.

"He was admitted to the hospital on July 7 with high fever, severe headache, nausea and body pain. He continues to be in hospital and is stable," N.K. Yadav, the chief medical officer of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), told IANS.

"It is the first dengue case reported in the capital this year. The hospital authorities have forwarded us details about the patient. We have collected blood samples of his other family members to ascertain that other members are not affected," said Yadav.

The MCD earlier this month launched an anti-dengue drive to prevent mosquito breeding in the capital. But they have now speeded up the process of fogging to check the breeding of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito that causes the disease.

"We have written a letter to the civic authority, transport, health and education department besides all government offices to take preventive measures to check breeding of mosquitoes," Yadav said.

The MCD has appointed 3,200 workers who will spread awareness among people about the steps to prevent mosquito breeding. They have begun house-to-house campaigns across Delhi.

The health department has also collected water samples from various offices and residential areas to check mosquito breeding.

"At some places in the capital, we have found mosquito breeding and have sprayed medicine to prevent it," Yadav said.

In 2008, about 300 dengue cases were reported in the national capital.

Last updated on Jul 14^th, 2009 at 16:04 pm IST--IANS