New Delhi: Delhi has reported two dengue deaths in 2025, underscoring the city’s growing struggle against vector-borne diseases. Nine-year-old Sharukh, a resident of Haiderpur, died on August 22 after being diagnosed with Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS), a severe and often fatal complication marked by sudden plasma leakage, shock, and organ failure. He developed a fever, was rushed to a private hospital in Shalimar Bagh, but his condition deteriorated rapidly. He passed away within a day.
The second victim, 48-year-old Mahesh Sharma from Gokulpuri in North-East Delhi, was admitted to a hospital in the first week of October. He suffered multi-organ failure caused by dengue and died shortly after.
A senior official at the National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC), speaking on condition of anonymity, said dengue cases have surged due to a combination of climate change, rapid urbanization, and unchecked mosquito breeding.
According to data released by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the city has recorded 1,136 dengue cases this year. The last three months alone saw a sharp rise: 208 cases in August, 260 in September, and 377 in October. Just last week, 70 new cases were reported.
The spike in October triggered political friction. A senior MCD official blamed the surge on the strike by Domestic Breeding Checkers (DBCs), whose field inspections are crucial for curbing mosquito breeding. The opposition, led by Aam Aadmi Party councillor Ankush Narang, hit back, accusing the ruling party of underreporting dengue deaths and mismanaging the situation. The MCD, however, denied any lapse, insisting that anti-larval and vector-control work continued despite the strike.
Last year, when the full staff was operational, Delhi recorded 11 dengue deaths. In 2023, the toll was 19. The trend in cases also shows volatility: 3,581 cases were reported in 2024; 5,481 in 2023; and 2,175 in 2022.
This year, the MCD claims to have carried out anti-larval spraying in 30.5 lakh homes, targeting breeding hotspots. Drones were deployed in waterlogged and inaccessible areas, including construction sites, to spray larvicides. Fogging machines were also used extensively across high-risk zones to kill adult mosquitoes.
Chikungunya cases, meanwhile, have climbed sharply. Till November 1, Delhi recorded 133 cases—higher than the 127 cases in 2024 and a dramatic rise from just 29 in 2023. Malaria cases are also inching upward, with 33 new cases reported last week, taking the total to 622. Last year, Delhi recorded 686 cases; in 2023, the figure was 358. No malaria deaths have been reported in the city this year.
Nationally, dengue continues to push health systems to the brink. In 2022, the worst-hit states were West Bengal (67,271 cases), Uttar Pradesh (19,821), Bihar (13,972), Rajasthan (13,491), and Maharashtra (19,034). NCVBDC officials warn that the surge is likely to continue as climate patterns shift, urban spaces densify, and preventive measures struggle to keep pace.
Dengue, once a seasonal illness, has now become a year-round threat—and Delhi is learning its cost in lives.
(Cover Illustration : Dengue in Delhi – AI generated Image)
