GURGAON: Haryana's dengue tally escalated to 3,772 on Monday, according to health department data. The highest cases have been documented in Panchkula (1,181), followed by Hisar (379), Karnal (274), Sonipat (249) and Rewari (242). Gurgaon, so far, has 164 dengue cases, while a total of 113 individuals tested positive for dengue in Faridabad. According to specialists, the present warm and humid weather is favourable to the breeding of the Aedes mosquito, which transmits the dengue virus. Residents experiencing flu-like symptoms should procure medical advice instead of self-medicating, whilst others should implement preventive measures such as wearing full-sleeved attire and utilising mosquito repellents, they recommended.
Last year, the city documented 276 dengue cases and one fatality. In 2022, it recorded 440 cases, whilst in 2021, there were 327 dengue cases and one death. The city witnessed the highest number of cases in 2015, when 451 people were infected. The figure stood at 86 in 2016, 66 in 2017, and 93 in 2018. Whilst 22 cases were reported in 2019, 51 cases were recorded in 2020.
"We will observe a decline in dengue cases within a week as we are already witnessing weather changes. This year we have seen dengue cases being reported in November as well as the meteorological and civic issues provided an ideal environment for the mosquitoes to spread dengue, but after November 15 we will see drastic decline in cases. We are conducting fever surveillance to detect cases at the earliest so that proper treatment can be initiated promptly," Gurgaon chief medical officer Virender Yadav said.
Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, and a characteristic skin rash resembling that of measles, he added.
The health department has also mapped dengue hotspots, which encompass areas like Wazirabad, DLF 1, DLF 4, sectors 12, 12A, 21A, 39, 45, 47 and 52, Palam Vihar, Basai, Kanhai colony, Sirhaul, Dharam colony, Udyog Vihar 1 and Jharsa.
Dengue is transmitted by several species of mosquito within the genus Aedes. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle, and joint pain, and a characteristic skin rash like measles. There are four types of dengue strains, and type II and IV are more severe and typically require hospitalisation.
Apart from conducting fever surveys, the department will also geo-tag all positive larva bases to establish a database to ensure regular monitoring of these hotspots during monsoon as well. This will then be compared with past surveys to comprehend if there are intersections and outbreaks in the city.
The teams will also inspect all houses in dengue clusters to ensure that no breeding occurs. If a person is experiencing high fever, nausea, joint and muscle pain, red rash on the skin and tiredness, then that person should contact the health centre immediately, doctors advised.
Aedes aegypti mosquitoes breed in clean stagnant water in domestic water containers like desert coolers, overhead tanks, plastic-bags, bottles, cups discarded in garbage, rooftop discarded items where water collects after rain, flowerpots, fridge rear trays, bird baths and tyres. Thus, the health department is focusing on identifying and eliminating mosquito breeding sites and spraying temephos larvicide in containers which cannot be emptied, an official said.
"Dengue fever continues to be a pressing concern in Delhi-NCR, with the unpredictable weather patterns exacerbating the situation. Whilst the current season has witnessed a rise in cases, it's challenging to predict a definitive decline. The factors influencing the spread of dengue, such as temperature, humidity, and rainfall, are all interrelated and subject to sudden changes. Therefore, maintaining vigilance and implementing preventive measures remain crucial until the onset of colder weather significantly reduces mosquito activity," said Dr P Venkata Krishnan, senior consultant, internal medicine, Artemis Hospitals.