GURUGRAM: A rise in
humidity levels could lead to a spike in
dengue cases in the coming weeks, doctors in the city have warned residents and urged them to take necessary precautions.
Through August and September, Gurugram had reported just 29
cases of dengue. But this month, the number of cases has risen to 172. However, most of these patients are from neighbouring states and districts and are being treated in the city hospitals. In the last three months, there have been 201 confirmed dengue patients, but only 35 of them are from the city, according to the health department. Areas that have reported a majority of these cases include DLF phases 1, 2, 3, 4, sectors 46, 57 and 67, Devilal Colony and Sushant Lok.
“We have had only six new cases of dengue in the city in October. However, we have received 166 patients from other areas. So far, we have treated 201 cases of dengue, of which only 35 are from Gurugram. People in the city need to be cautious about dengue and should check their overhead tanks, flowering pots and water coolers regularly,” said Dr Virender Yadav, the chief medical officer of Gurugram.
The health official said the city hospitals had been treating dengue patients from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and nearby districts of Haryana. So far, there has been no dengue-related death in the city.
Doctors have advised residents to wear full-sleeved clothes and use
mosquito repellents, especially when humidity levels are expected to rise with the nip in air. “Vector-borne diseases, such as dengue, usually rise with the rise in humidity levels. Dengue-causing mosquitoes breed in freshwater and it takes about a week for the larvae to hatch,” said a doctor at the Civil Hospital.
Officials at the India Meteorological Department said humidity levels in the city were hovering between 50 and 60% but may rise over the weekend. “Fresh light snowfall is expected over the upper reaches of the Himalayas. Light rain in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh is also likely. Partial cloudy and isolated light rain is also possible in Haryana,” said the IMD official.
In October, a total of 1,72,304 houses were inspected and 916 notices issued. This month, 50,726 water coolers were examined by the local civic body, of which larvae were found in 894. Similarly, 41,460 overhead tanks were checked and 756 of them had larvae. The municipal corporation examined 30,776 sinks and 572 had larvae in them. The teams also checked 26,185 outside spots and found 589 points where water had accumulated. Similarly, 32,418 tyres were inspected and 256 had larvae.
The city had reported the highest number of dengue cases in 2015, when a total of 451 cases were registered in the district. This figure stood at 86 in 2016, 66 in 2017 and 93 in 2018. Last year, less than 15 cases of dengue were reported in Gurugram.