Dengue in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi (India): Epidemiological and entomological profile for the period 2003 to 2008.

ABSTRACT

Dengue is endemic in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi. During the period 2003 to 2008,9737 confirmed cases of dengue fever (DF)/dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) and 115 deaths were recorded compared with 1341 cases and 6 deaths that happened during 1997 to 2002, representingan increase of 626%. During this period two outbreak peaks were also recorded. In addition, the satellite town of Gurgaon (Haryana) bordering Delhi also suffered a severe outbreak of DF/DHF during 2008.Aedes aegypti, the responsible vector, is fully entrenched in both urban and rural areas. DF/DHF transmission in years of extended winter rains occurs both during the summer and rainy seasons.Evaporation coolers during summer maintain low temperature and high humidity to ensure dengue transmission in some highly congested localities.