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In a concerning public health development. The total number of dengue cases in Uttarakhand has surged past the 3,000 mark. The state capital Dehradun bearing the brunt of the outbreak. As of Friday October 6, 2023 the total number of confirmed dengue cases reached 3,046.
Worst Affected Areas in Bihar by Dengue
Dehradun has been the hardest hit reporting a staggering 1,023 cases. Pauri and Haridwar are the next two worst affected districts with 736 cases in Pauri Garhwal and over 500 in Haridwar. Nainital reported 489 cases while Udham Singh Nagar recorded 98 cases.
Tragic Toll 16 Dengue Related Deaths
The dengue outbreak has also taken a tragic toll with 16 reported deaths in the state. Of these fatalities 13 occurred in Dehradun and three were recorded in Nainital. The Health authorities are monitoring the situation and providing medical care to those affected ones.
Seasonal Impact and Expectations
Dengue fever is transmitted by the Aedes mosquito and is characterized by sudden high fever, severe joint and muscle pain, skin rashes and bleeding tendencies. It tends to occur during the monsoon and post monsoon seasons. When stagnant water becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Uttarakhand’s nodal malaria officer, Dr. Pankaj Singh mentioned that the virus has an incubation period of 4-14 days. Most of the currently reported cases would have been exposed to it a few days earlier. He anticipates that the dengue season will start to decline between October 15 to October 20. The number of cases is already showing a decreasing trend.
Decline in Severity
Officials have noted a decline in the severity of the virus at present. Dr. Singh explained that the peak occurred during periods of high temperatures and humidity. As temperatures have been decreasing, the strains of the virus reported have been less fatal. Nevertheless, authorities are urging the public to remain cautious and adhere to necessary precautions until the dengue season subsides.
Compared to Previous Outbreaks by Dengue
The dengue outbreak in Uttarakhand this year has been the most severe since 2019, when over 10,000 cases were registered. Measures such as creating micro containment zones and implementing source segregation have been implemented and have yielded positive results in managing the situation, according to officials.
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