Delhi-NCR Weather Updates: Heavy Rains, Flooding Trigger Dengue, Malaria and Chikungunya Threat; IMD Issues Red Warning
Monsoon rains batters Delhi-NCR, risks of vector-borne diseases are likely to rise due to stagnant water that results in mosquitoes breeding, viruses and bacteria.
Delhi-NCR Rains Updates: Unlike other years, Delhi experienced unusually cooler weather this year, as compared to the scorching summer heat we remember. The capital has witnessed incessant rain in the last few days, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a fresh red weather warning on Wednesday, forecasting heavy rainfall exceeding 15 mm per hour.
As heavy rains continue for several days in many regions in India, particularly Delhi-NCR, the risk of vector-borne diseases increases due to waterlogging.
What Are Vector-Borne Diseases?
In medical terminology, vector-borne diseases are conditions which is mainly caused by pathogens like viruses and bacteria that are spread by mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas.
With Delhi-NCR and nearby areas experiencing heavy downpours for a week now, the cities are facing issues due toch as waterlogging, flooding etc. As per reports, city hospitals have also reported a steady spike in cases of dengue, malaria, and chikungunya in the last few days, with potential risk of another outbreak.
Delhi-NCR Rains: Risk Of Dengue, Malaria, And Chikungunya
Dr Rajesh Kumar Budhiraja, Director, Internal Medicine, Fortis Faridabad, reportedly stated that by the end of July, cases of dengue spiked to 277, which is among the highest mid-year tallies in the past five years. And Malaria cases had reached 124 by late July, a count that already exceeded last year's record. As for chikungunya, cases are relatively low at 17, when compared with the other two types of vector-borne diseases.
Symptoms Of Vector-Borne Diseases
Most symptoms of vector-borne diseases such as dengue, malaria and chikungunya typically appear between 4 10 days after infection and last for 2 7 days. Symptoms may include:
- High fever (40 C/104 F)
- Severe headache
- Pain behind the eyes
- Muscle and joint pains
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Swollen glands
- Rash
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), individuals with a severe case of vector-borne disease may experience symptoms such as:
- Severe abdominal pain
- Persistent vomiting
- Rapid breathing
- Bleeding gums or nose
- Fatigue
- Restlessness
- Blood in vomit or stool
- Being very thirsty
- Pale and cold skin
- Feeling weak.
Tips To Prevent Dengue, Malaria and Chikungunya
With the consistent rain in the city, experts have warned that the cases of dengue, malaria and chikungunya and other mosquito-borne diseases are likely to see a spike. Taking this warning into consideration, here are some easy and effective tips that you may follow to keep yourself safe from these diseases:
- Clothes that cover as much of your body as possible;
- Mosquito nets, ideally sprayed with insect repellent, if sleeping during the day;
- Window screens;
- Mosquito repellents (containing DEET, Picaridin or IR3535); and
- Coils and vaporisers.
Stagnant water surrounding the house, hospitals, schools, and offices, etc, becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Follow these to prevent mosquitoes from breeding - do not keep stagtant water in your home, keep changing the water in the pot and other dispensers on a daily basis.
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