Delhi: Dengue control municipal workers' union threatens to go on strike from today
Arvind Kejriwal and Lt Governor V K Saxena. Also read: Delhi reports highest dengue case count in 5 years. Symptoms, helpline number, what not to do here The strike comes at a concerning time for Delhi, as monsoon rains and water logging in parts of the city have increased the threat of vector-borne diseases, including dengue.
Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi assured that the demands of the striking workers will be looked into. She also urged the public to cooperate with the DBC staff when they visit households and warned of penal action if breeding of larvae is found during inspections. Amid the threat of a "significant increase" in the number of cases of vector-borne diseases Delhi Mayor Oberoi on July 21 said the civic body was prepared to combat any such situation.
Delhi has experienced severe dengue outbreaks in the past, with 2015 being the worst outbreak since 1996. Dengue is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which breeds in containers with clear and stagnant water. Dengue control workers were hired in 1996 when Delhi had faced a massive dengue outbreak with over 10,200 cases and more than 420 deaths which was the worst outbreak on record for Delhi.
In 2006, Dengue control workers were given the tag of DBC workers. Also read: Amid rise in dengue cases, Delhi govt asks chemists not to sell painkillers like Aspirin, Ibuprofen without prescription More than 160 dengue cases were reported in the national capital till mid-July this year, the highest for this period since 2018, according to an MCD report. The report stated that 54 cases of malaria have been recorded in the same period.
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