Dengue cases reduced to 5,700 in Delhi, but malaria and chikungunya increased by 99% from 2023. peppermint

Delhi is battling a significant increase in mosquito-borne diseases, with cases of dengue, malaria and chikungunya reaching worrying levels. As of November 30, the city had recorded more than 5,700 dengue cases and three related deaths, according to Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) data. In October alone, more than 2,400 dengue cases were reported, the highest in four years.

Although dengue cases have dropped from 9,266 in 2023, the city is now seeing a rise in other mosquito-borne diseases, with malaria and chikungunya reaching their highest levels in recent years.

Increase in cases of malaria, chikungunya seen in Delhi

The cases of malaria and chikungunya have increased rapidly in 2024. Delhi recorded 766 cases of malaria till November 30, a dramatic increase of 99 per cent from 384 cases reported in the same period last year. This figure marks the highest incidence of malaria in the capital in the last four years. Similarly, chikungunya cases increased from just 44 to 266 in 2023, the highest in at least the last five years.

The highest increase in these diseases occurred between September and October, coinciding with changing weather patterns in Delhi.

Delhi’s weather conditions are contributing to the spread of the disease

This year, the late monsoon in Delhi has been a major reason for the late rise in mosquito-borne diseases. Mosquitoes typically breed during the monsoon season from June to September, but a delay in the rains means an increase in the number of breeding sites. Subsequently, the early arrival of winter has helped in reducing the number of cases.

Unlike last year, when the peak of mosquito-borne diseases was between August and November, this year’s surge occurred later in the season, which has affected the overall prevalence of these diseases.

Japanese encephalitis cases trigger increase in measures

Apart from dengue, malaria and chikungunya, the Delhi Municipal Corporation is also dealing with the threat of Japanese encephalitis, another mosquito-borne virus.

A case of Japanese encephalitis was reported earlier this month, prompting the municipal corporation to intensify its anti-mosquito operations.

Senior MCD officials said that as the temperature drops further, the number of dengue cases is expected to decline, with the minimum temperature having already dropped to 10-12 degrees Celsius.

symptoms of malaria

Symptoms of malaria can range from mild to severe, and may include:

Fever: a typical symptom that may develop 8–30 days after infection

Chills: can occur cyclically with the life cycle of the parasite

Headache: may be accompanied by fever

Muscle pain: may be accompanied by fever

Fatigue: may be accompanied by fever

Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea: may be accompanied by fever

Anemia: low red blood cells

Jaundice: Yellowing of the skin and eyes

Kidney failure: can occur with malaria

Seizures: May occur with malaria

Mental confusion: can be caused by malaria

Coma: can occur with malaria

Death: May be due to malaria

Difficulty breathing, bleeding, extreme fatigue, cramps, sore throat, cough and loss of appetite.

If diagnosed and treated promptly, malaria can be cured within two weeks. Without treatment, symptoms may recur from time to time.

chikungunya symptoms

Fever: A sudden, high fever is a common symptom that usually starts 3-7 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.

Joint pain: Severe joint pain is the most common symptom of chikungunya and can be debilitating.

Other symptoms: headache, muscle pain, swollen joints, rash, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue.

Most people recover completely from chikungunya, but some may experience long-term joint pain. In some cases, joint pain can last for months or even years.