Monsoon Fever

New Delhi, India’s capital of 16 million people, is ravaged every year by either dengue or chikungunya. This year, it’s the latter. Already, 3,251 cases have been reported compared to last year’s 64. Estimates are likely conservative because poorer citizens tend not to seek treatment.

Though mosquito-borne diseases are common during monsoon season, the Indian government is routinely accused of only shifting into gear once an outbreak reaches crisis level.

Officials—who have set up treatment clinics, canceled vacation for public hospital doctors and sprayed for mosquitos—counter that they need more community participation to adequately tackle outbreaks.
Associated Press