Delhi is facing a serious dengue outbreak, potentially the worst since 2015. There have been over 3,000 confirmed cases and one death so far this year. The seriousness of the outbreak was kept secret for seven weeks until it was revealed on Tuesday. The reason for the secrecy was because of the G20 Summit held in September.
Dengue cases usually increase during September and October, so the numbers are expected to rise for a few more weeks. Delhi has already recorded 3,013 dengue cases this year, the highest since 2015. In 2015, there were 15,867 cases and 60 deaths.
The decision to withhold dengue data was criticized by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of hiding the outbreak for political reasons. Some councillors also claimed that the official figures were inadequate and that there were multiple deaths in their areas.
The Delhi government has not commented on the issue. The Mayor denied claims of insufficient resources for dengue control. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) stopped releasing dengue bulletins since August 7, claiming that weekly reports were not required and that the situation was under control.
Compared to previous years, the number of dengue cases this year is much higher. Last year, there were only 937 cases during the same period. Experts expect the numbers to continue rising until the weather becomes less suitable for mosquitoes.
This year’s outbreak is worsened by the presence of a more dangerous dengue strain, which can cause severe symptoms. However, municipal health officials have assured that they have enough supplies to effectively manage the dengue season this year.
