No respite from dengue cases in region

Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 5

Despite a significant fall in temperature and the onset of winter, Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) Jammu continues to receive dengue cases, with people of the region living under the fear of viral fever.

Although doctors are divided over the reasons as mosquitoes, carrier of this vector-borne disease, generally do not survive cold weather, medical practitioners attribute this to the favourable conditions mosquitoes may be getting at homes.

About half a dozen cases have been reported at the GMCH in the past two weeks and a majority of them belong to Jammu. Since September, about 435 dengue cases have been reported in the UT. However there was no reported death witnessed in the state.

Three southern districts of Jammu, Samba and Kathua report most of the cases. Owing to the weather variations, the Jammu region has a greater tendency of malaria patients which, in turn, leads to the detection of dengue. If not detected on time, the virus leads to death.

State malariologist Dr LD Bhagat said, “The temperature has fallen since November, but mosquitoes may be getting conditions to survive within the premises. This could be one of the reasons as they breed in any container holding water for a long time.” Dengue occurs in two forms, dengue and dengue haemorrhagic fever, which is more severe with bleeding and sometimes with shock, which may lead to death also.

Meanwhile, family members of a patient who contracted dengue during the last week are shocked. “There was sudden fever on December 1. We thought it to be routine fever, but within 24 hours, dengue was confirmed by tests. We admitted the patient to hospital,” said Sunita Devi, whose relative is in the GMCH.

As per the WHO, the primary cause of the deadly fever is Aedes aegypti, also known as the yellow-fever mosquito. Aegypti is recognised by white stripes on its legs which mostly targets its victim during the day hours. The mosquitoes carrying virus cannot survive when the maximum and minimum temperature falls below 22-20 degree Celsius, but in case of the region, patients continue to get detected.

Most incidents from southern districts

Three southern districts of Jammu, Samba and Kathua report most of the cases. Owing to the weather variations, the Jammu region has a greater tendency of malaria patients which, in turn, leads to the detection of dengue. If not detected on time, the virus leads to death.