Sunday, 25 AUGUST 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Several factors including the delayed arrival of the monsoon and improved coordination between the health department and the municipal bodies have contributed to the absence of dengue cases in the Dehradun district until August compared to the previous year, the district surveillance officer Dr CS Rawat said. Notably, there have been no reported cases of dengue in Dehradun district up to August this year, whereas a significant number of cases were recorded in August and September of the previous year.
Regarding this, Rawat said that, thus far, the Health department has not encountered any instances of dengue in Dehradun. He emphasised that during this period last year, an average of 800 to 900 individuals were afflicted with dengue. Rawat added that the delayed onset of dengue cases this year can be attributed to the late monsoon arrival, whereas the previous year witnessed an early monsoon onset in June.
Rawat emphasised the importance of proper coordination between the health department and the municipal bodies in terms of fogging and larvicide in protecting the city’s residents from Dengue. He added that dengue larvae typically thrive in areas with waterlogging, which has been less prevalent this year due to the continuous monsoon causing running water that does not provide a suitable environment for the larvae to breed. However, Rawat said that the absence of dengue cases so far does not indicate complete safety. He warned that once the monsoon season ends, waterlogging in some areas may create conducive conditions for dengue larvae. Therefore, this year, the health department has instructed Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers and volunteers to remain vigilant and continue the dengue awareness campaign in the Dehradun district until September and October.
He further emphasised the importance of wearing full-sleeve clothes and preventing stagnant water to prevent dengue.
It will be recalled that the medical superintendent of Government Doon Medical College (GDMC) Dr Anurag Aggarwal also previously highlighted how the rise in mercury temperature has led to the elimination of mosquitoes, indirectly reducing the chances of dengue in Dehradun this year.
