Dengue continues to sting in Lucknow: 3 cases every 3 hours daily

Oct 18,2023

Lucknow: The city has been reporting three new dengue infections every three hours over the last 15 days. According to health experts, the situation is likely to continue till mid-November.

According to data, at least 29 people are getting infected every day, which is 30 per cent higher than the average daily infection of 21 in September, the month when the city witnessed a rise in dengue cases.

With an influx of patients seeking treatment in their outpatient departments, dengue wards in Balrampur Hospital, Lokbandhu, and SPM Civil Hospital are packed to capacity. Experts emphasise that dengue transmission is linked to factors such as rainfall, humidity, and temperature, which determine the areas and the rate at which the virus spreads. Rainfall and humidity in September created water accumulation, which created a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

However, temperature will come down in a few days which is likely to bring respite. Chief medical officer, Dr Manoj Agrawal, explained: "Until temperatures drop below 20 degrees Celsius, the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes remain active and continue to spread infection. People should remain vigilant until that time."

Former head of community medicine department of the King George's Medical University (KGMU), Prof Jamal Masood, said that the number of months conducive to dengue transmission by Aedes mosquitoes has been increasing due to warmer winter months each year. "To combat the virus's spread, both the public and the health department must take proactive measures," he said.

Prof D Himanshu, in charge of infectious diseases unit at KGMU, said: "Mosquito control activities should be carried out daily in every area. There should be an intensive focus on pockets where large numbers of patients are emerging."

Source: Health World