A fresh case of dengue was identified in the city on Thursday. Surprisingly, this is not a suitable climate for dengue mosquitoes to survive as these mosquitoes die when temperature drops below 14 degrees Celsius. With this, the total case of dengue patients has increased to 35 until the ongoing winter season.

Chief medical and health officer (CMHO) Bhopal Dr Pankaj Shukla said a two-year-old child, a resident of Habibganj Railway Crossing area, was diagnosed with dengue on Monday. He was admitted to Miracle Hospital. The patient is fine now and has been discharged, he added.

Dr Shukla said it was quite shocking that a child was diagnosed with dengue in this season as dengue mosquitoes do not survive in cold climate. But all the preventive measures have been taken by the department, he added.

“A team of health department visited the locality of the dengue patient to take preventive steps for dengue. After identifying the fresh case in the city, the department has become alert,” the CMHO said.

Former district malaria officer Dr Padmakar Tripathi said the city is struck by dengue epidemic in every four years. Last time, the epidemic occurred in the year 2009, he said.

He also alleged that the pyrethrum used by the health department was substandard. He said the report of international testing laboratory has also declared the pyrethrum substandard.