With the season for the vector-borne diseases coming to an end, the number of chikungunya and dengue cases have plummeted in the national capital.
Only 322 fresh cases of chikungunya were recorded in the past week, taking the total number of people afflicted by the vector-borne disease to over 11,500 this year.
"As many as 11,515 suspected cases have been recorded this season till November 12, out of which 9,192 have been confirmed," according to a report released today by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation.
At least 11,193 suspected chikungunya cases were reported in the city till November 5.
As per the report, only 135 fresh dengue cases were reported in the national capital last week. 3,913 cases were recorded till November 12.
SDMC tabulates the data for vector-borne disease cases in the national capital on behalf of all the civic bodies.
Of the total chikungunya cases, 746 have been reported in areas falling under the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), the highest among the three corporations.
657 confirmed chikungunya cases have been reported in areas under SDMC and 370 under EDMC this season.
3,606 cases have been reported from areas falling outside the jurisdiction of the three municipal corporations. And, 3,813 cases have been recorded from other states.
At least 15 fatalities have been reported at various hospitals in the city due to complications triggered by chikungunya, though the civic bodies have kept the death tally at zero.
Delhi and other parts of north India faced a spike in chikungunya cases after nearly 10 years. In 2006, over 13 lakh suspected cases of chikungunya were reported.
Last year, out of the 15,867 dengue cases, 7,283 were reported in October, the highest in the season. Also, September last year had seen 6,775 cases but only 1,362 cases were reported this September.
At least 21 deaths due to dengue have been reported atvarious hospitals, including nine at AIIMS, though the civic bodies said only four persons died of the disease this season.
In 1996, Delhi had recorded about 10,252 cases of dengue and 423 deaths, prompting the authorities to declare it a notifiable disease.
(With PTI inputs)
