Malaria cases in Delhi have nearly doubled this year, rising to 784 as of December 21, compared to 402 cases reported during the same period in 2023, according to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s (MCD) vector-borne disease report. The city has seen a steady rise in malaria cases over recent years, with 258 cases reported in 2022 and 167 in 2021.
Officials attribute the surge to heavy rainfall, which created ideal conditions for mosquito breeding. “Malaria is caused by the Anopheles mosquito, which breeds in clear water collected on surfaces, even if touching the soil or ground. Rainwater accumulation on roads provides an ideal environment for these mosquitoes. In contrast, the Aedes mosquito, responsible for dengue and chikungunya, breeds in containers or stagnant water not touching the ground,” an MCD official explained.
Chikungunya cases have also increased significantly, with 259 cases reported this year compared to 53 in 2023 and 47 in 2022. Meanwhile, dengue cases totaled 6,287 as of December 24, lower than last year’s count of 8,970 during the same period but higher than the 4,361 cases reported in 2022. Dengue deaths have also declined, with eight fatalities recorded in 2024 compared to 19 last year.
“In December alone, 586 dengue cases were reported, a notable decrease from 1,303 cases in December 2023,” the report noted.
MCD officials highlighted that the current lean period has led to reduced insecticide spraying drives, although public awareness remains crucial. “Warm temperatures can still lead to mosquito breeding at home, even as outdoor cases decline,” an official said.
As reported by economictimes, from January 1 to December 21, MCD staff sprayed insecticides in 32,89,242 houses and conducted over 4 crore visits to inspect mosquitogenic conditions. Legal notices were issued to 1,67,107 households, with 55,157 prosecutions launched. Additionally, 2,88,744 houses were identified as positive for mosquito breeding during inspections.
With rising vector-borne diseases posing significant public health challenges, officials urge residents to remain vigilant and take preventive measures to reduce mosquito breeding sites.