The Indian capital of New Delhi reported 477 cases of dengue fever in August, the highest number since 2010, bringing the total number of cases this year to more than 530, according to local health authorities.

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) have planned to start serological tests to identify prevalent strains of the virus this year.

According to the findings, New Delhi reported over 6,000 cases of mosquito-borne diseases in 2010, 885 of them in August. The local government has dispatched workers to spray insecticide across communities.

"The number of dengue fever cases has increased a lot this year due to the increase in rainfall. This has created favourable conditions for mosquitoes to breed," said Yogesh Nandal, a community worker in south New Delhi.

Medical experts say despite the high number of cases, symptoms of the disease seem to be relatively mild this year. Most of the patients are suffering from fever, muscle and joint pains. "This is not at least to such a level that it should be called an epidemic. It is due to seasonal variation. There is an increasing number of cases due to the rainy season. So it is just like that. But it is very much under control," said Dr MPS Gandhi, a health official at the New Delhi Municipal Council.

Dengue fever is a potentially fatal mosquito-borne disease which mainly affects people in tropical and subtropical regions every summer. It causes fever, nausea, vomiting and muscle and joint aches. Most dengue viruses record a spike every two or five years in India.

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