Hyd reported 482 dengue cases in Sept; TS saw second-highest cases in India

Hyderabad: Nearly 482 dengue cases have been recorded in Hyderabad this month alone, according to health officials. The highest number of cases, 633, were recorded in August, while July saw a considerably less number of cases this year, 118, after a huge spike in June (565).

According to the National Center for Vector Borne Disease Control, 2,960 dengue cases were recorded in 2022 (till 31 August). Telangana recorded the second-highest number of cases in India, followed by Karnataka. In 2021, a total of 7,135 dengue cases were reported in Telangana.

The highest number of cases has been recorded in Karnataka (5,392), followed by 3,396 cases in Tamil Nadu, and 2,960 in Telangana. Maharashtra recorded 2,927 dengue cases, while Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat reported 2,309, 2,007, 1,745, 1,448, and 1,212 cases, respectively.

Telangana health officials said that while dengue cases were on the rise in August, there seems to be a decline in September.

"There has been an increase in the number of cases due to rapid urbanisation. Urbanisation often leads to more construction sites where there is more space and possibility for freshwater stagnation," said an official on condition of anonymity.

A state health official said all areas where dengue cases have been reported have been sprayed with disinfectants and all the persons living in the surrounding areas have been made aware.

"In the last month, I have seen 30 positive dengue cases in Care Hospital alone," said Dr. Mustafa Afzal, consultant clinical microbiologist and infectious diseases, CARE Hospital, Nampally. "Most of the patients who are being diagnosed with dengue this time are aged between 15-30," he added.

Dr. Mustafa further said that this time the cases are not severe. "There are no major breathing problems unlike the cases seen in January and June," he said.

Under the condition of anonymity, a senior National Center for Disease Control official said although there is no pan-India outbreak, several states are already experiencing a spike in dengue cases. Extreme rainfall this year in several parts of the nation is the cause of dengue. States are now keeping an eye on the patients independently. The Central government is aware of the increase in cases and will send teams as needed, the officials said.