Dangerous dengue strain circulating in Delhi; be alert of early warning signs

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal held a high-level review meeting attended by health minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, mayor Shelly Oberoi and civic and health officials on Friday to take stock of measures to contain the spread of dengue.

According to medical experts, there are four dengue virus serotypes - DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 and DENV-4. DENV-2 is both severe and common and has the potential to cause dengue haemorrhagic fever. There is not much mortality, as per health experts, but dengue can often be life-threatening when it occurs for the second time.

Earlier, Mayor Shelly Oberoi warned of potential increases in dengue and malaria cases due to flooding in certain areas. She said that departments have been directed to check mosquito breeding and clear the silt and sludge left by the flood.

So far, a total of 187 dengue cases have been reported in Delhi this year till July 22, the highest for the period since 2018, according to a civic body report.

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Many people experience no signs or symptoms of a dengue infection. Dengue fever can cause a high fever (104 F) as well as headache, nausea, vomiting, pain behind the eyes, swollen glands, rash, along with muscle, bone or joint pain. It is important to see a doctor if you experience any of these symptoms.

• The Delhi government has also increased fines for mosquito breeding - ₹1000 for households and ₹5000 for commercial establishments, announced Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj.
  
• The chief minister directed all hospitals to reserve beds for dengue patients and ensure adequate stock of essential medicines.
  
• Doctors have been advised not to prescribe aspirin/disprin-like blood thinners as they can be dangerous during treatment of dengue.
  
• Hospitals have been declared a 'no-tolerance zone' for mosquito breeding and instructions have been provided to other departments as well.
  
• Last year, 21% of mosquito breeding was found to occur in police compounds, said the Delhi government. Therefore, it has written to Delhi Police to ensure this doesn't happen this time.
  
• The education directorate will ensure all students attend school in full-sleeve uniform. In cases where they do not have one, they can wear their own full-sleeve shirt and trousers.
  
• Further, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation will also make announcements about dengue prevention in order to reach a wider audience.