Nagpur logs 72 dengue cases in first 18 days of October, up from 46 in all of September

The pattern of seasonal illnesses in Nagpur is changing, and the health department's concern has grown. According to figures from the department, 72 dengue cases were recorded in the city in the first 18 days of October. In comparison, 46 dengue cases were reported in the whole of September.

That means 26 more patients were found in the first 18 days of October than in September. This is an increase of about 56.5 per cent, and the number of patients was roughly 1.57 times that of the whole of September. From January to October, a total of 180 dengue cases have been recorded in Nagpur, including these 72 cases in October.

The rise comes at a time when concern is being expressed about a possible water crisis in the city. Fearing a shortage, people may store water in buckets, drums, tanks and other containers at home. If such containers are left open or are not cleaned regularly, the risk of mosquitoes breeding in them increases. However, the report states clearly that the water crisis or water storage cannot be considered the only reason for the rise in dengue cases. Several factors, including the weather, the presence of mosquitoes and local conditions, could be responsible.

Water collected during rain is usually considered a major cause of mosquito breeding. But less rain does not mean the risk of dengue has ended. Water collected in homes, buildings, construction sites, terraces and premises can become a suitable breeding place for mosquitoes. The Aedes mosquito, which spreads dengue, can breed even in clean water, so attention to dirty drains and garbage alone is not enough. Water tanks, drums, buckets, saucers kept under flower pots, old tyres and discarded containers can also be a cause.

The swine flu figures show the opposite picture. There were 128 swine flu cases in September, while in the first 18 days of October the number fell to 22. From January to October, a total of 229 swine flu cases have been recorded in the city. Even so, it would not be right to estimate the whole of October from the figures of just 18 days.

On the Covid-19 front, no new patient was recorded in Nagpur in September or in the first 18 days of October. From January to October, a total of 17 Covid-19 cases have been recorded in the city. For now, the greatest concern is therefore dengue.

According to the figures, the position on the three diseases is as follows. For dengue, 180 cases were recorded from January to October, 46 in September and 72from 1 to 18 October. For swine flu, the figures were 229, 128 and 22. For Covid-19, they were 17, zero and zero. The October figures cover only the period from 1 to 18 October.

The report says the rise in dengue is not a matter of one person's negligence alone. Combined efforts such as regular surveillance, mosquito control, cleanliness of public places and public awareness are described as necessary to keep it in check. Identifying water collected in different parts of the city and inspecting homes and public premises have also been called useful steps.

It has also been said that the safe storage of water should not be ignored amid the need to conserve it. Vigilance has been called for especially in areas where irregular water supply forces people to store more water.