Gurgaon: With daily average of four new cases, dengue still a threat

Dengue cases continue to rise in Gurgaon despite the drop in temperature with 40 new cases reported in the last 10 days. The total number of cases has reached 421 this year. No deaths have been reported so far.

Dengue cases continue to rise in Gurgaon despite the drop in temperature with 40 new cases reported in the last 10 days. The total number of cases has reached 421 this year. No deaths have been reported so far.

As number of dengue cases rise in the city, people queue up outside the Civil Hospital to get their blood test done. (HT file photo)

Though the health department officials were expecting higher number of cases this year, the frequency of cases was expected to reduce around Diwali. The temperature usually starts falling after Diwali, thereby not providing suitable conditions for the breeding of Aedes mosquito - the carrier of dengue virus.

With an average of four new cases being reported every day, officials suggest that people should not stop taking precautions. According to the health department officials, more rainfall this year has added to the dengue menace.

“This year, the rainfall was more than usual and we are expecting more cases. Besides, there was intermittent rain till September, resulting in waterlogging and allowing mosquitoes to breed. People have also been careless about taking precautions,” Dr VK Thapar, district malaria officer of Gurgaon, said.

This is the highest dengue count in the city since 2010 when it had risen to 631. In 2012, there were a total of 375 cases reported with three deaths and the total this year has already surpassed that figure.

Despite the high number of cases, no particular region in the city has been specifically prone to dengue. Sushant Lok 1 has recorded 15 positive cases, which is the maximum number from a single locality. According to doctors, the other areas from which positive cases have been reported are DLF Phase 5, Sector 45 and Sushant Lok 2.

Most of the cases were of patients in the age group of 14 to 45 years. Health department officials added that more cases have been reported from New Gurgaon areas than from the old city.

Doctors suggest using mosquito repellent, maintaining hygiene, keeping ones surroundings clean, wearing full-sleeved clothes and avoiding water accumulation anywhere around homes or workplaces as preventive measures. The larvae of aedes mosquito were found in coolers, planters and water tanks in homes.

Health department officials said that dengue cases peak when the virus that causes dengue — Flavivirus — completes a cycle of three years. This is why higher number of cases was recorded in 2009, 2012 and again in 2015.