More than 11,515 suspected chikungunya cases reported in Delhi till November 12

Delhi has witnessed a fall  in Chikungunya cases  while dengue cases showed a slight rise in the past week, with the total number of people affected by the vector-borne disease crossing 4,000 this season.

Only 203 fresh cases of chikungunya were recorded in the past week, taking the total number of people afflicted by the vector-borne disease to over 11,718 this year. 322 cases were reported in the week before that.

"As many as 11,718 suspected cases have been recorded this season till November 19, out of which 9,360 have been confirmed," according to a report released today by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation.At least 11,515 suspected chikungunya cases were reported in the city till November 12.

As per the report, 152 fresh dengue cases were reported in the national capital last week. 4,065 cases were recorded till November 19.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, 753 have been reported in areas falling under the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), the highest among the three corporations.

660 confirmed chikungunya cases have been reported in areas under SDMC and 375 under EDMC this season.3,691 cases have been reported from areas falling outside the jurisdiction of the three municipal corporations. And, 3,881 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 at various 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.