By NNN-PTI,
New Delhi : The alarming rise in the number of dengue cases continued in the national capital on Friday with the figure crossing the 200 mark, after 21 fresh cases were detected today from different parts of the city.
“Twenty-one more patients tested positive for the virus today taking the number of afflicted persons to 209 this season,” said V K Monga, MCD Public Health Committee Chairman.
While five fresh cases were reported from the Rohini area, three each were found in Shahadra, Civil Lines and South Delhi. The remaining were detected from Narela, Najafgarh and West Delhi.
Civic agencies, whose problems have been compounded by some 2,500 mosquito breeding checking staff — DBCs — going on strike, however, refuse to term it a panic situation.
The workers, employed with the MCD on contract basis, are demanding regularisation of their jobs.
“It is still not an epidemic situation,” said Monga, adding, “while negotiations were on with striking DBCs, a new batch of breeding checkers will be brought into the filed by Monday”.
“Regularising their jobs is not legally possible. We have still offered to regularise them as multi-purpose health workers later, but they are adamant in their demand,” Monga said. Their strike is sheer “blackmail tactic”, he said.
With September and October normally considered as peak months for the spread of dengue, the number of cases are only expected to rise, civic bodies admit.
The onslaught of dengue has been more intense this year as compared to recent years, a phenomenon attributed to the early arrival of monsoon and the high levels of humidity.