NEW DELHI, 10 October 2003 — Indian health authorities predicted yesterday a deadly wave of dengue fever saying 80 people had died of the mosquito-borne disease in the past three months and some 4,720 people were infected.

A National Anti Malaria Programme (NAMP) coordinator warned that infections could rise because heavy monsoon rains have left stagnant pools of water which are breeding grounds for mosquitoes in overcrowded Indian housing estates.

“At least 4,720 cases of infection have been reported from 15 states while 78 people have died of dengue up until October 6,” said the NAMP official who did not want to be identified.

Another two people died of the disease yesterday in Gujarat taking the death toll to 80.

“Two of my male patients died of dengue. There are seven other patients in my hospital being treated for the same disease,” said Dr. Bharat Ghadvi at Gujarat’s Sterling Hospital.

“The mosquito menace is high this year owing to heavy rains. We fear a rise in cases of dengue fever if the government does not address the situation urgently,” he said.

India this year had one of the wettest monsoons in 25 years and although the bountiful rains are expected to boost the agriculture-based economy, they have caused floods and led to a spate of mosquito-borne disease like malaria and dengue.

Dengue has reached alarming proportions in southern India with Kerala recording 3,155 cases of infection and 63 deaths, said the NAMP.

Neighboring Karnataka state has reported six deaths and 816 infections.

“There has been a lot of mixed infection such as dengue, typhoid and malaria,” said Sudha Dinnakar, a doctor in Lakeside Hospital, in Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka.

New Delhi, home to 14 million people, has reported 568 cases of dengue fever in recent months with the disease claiming one life this week.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has issued 15,541 notices this year to owners with unclean residences and prosecuted 5,114 cases as part of a drive against dengue fever and malaria, deputy director B.K. Hazarika said.

Even Indian Law Minister Arun Jaitley and film superstar Amitabh Bachchan were fined for having residences that could spread mosquito-borne diseases.

Dengue fever causes intense headaches, vomiting, muscle and joint aches and can be fatal.

In fatal cases, victims often do not recognize they are infected and fail to seek proper treatment.