16 dengue cases have been reported in Kolkata, Bidhannagar and South Dum Dum Municipal areas in West Bengal since September 27, 2023
On October 14, 2023 a two-month-old baby from Tilajala in south Kolkata, West Bengal died at near Park Circus. The death certificate mentioned the immediate cause of death as Klebsiella sepsis and the antecedent cause was severe dengue and a bacterial infection.
16 dengue cases have been reported in Kolkata, Bidhannagar and South Dum Dum Municipal areas since September 27, 2023. As per mayor Firhad Hakim, the total number of dengue infections in the city stands at 7,422.
Dengue, a viral illness caused by the bite of an Aedes aegypti mosquito, has steadily increased in the past half-century. According to a 2023 report published in The Lancet, between 1951-60 and 2012-21, the number of months suitable for Aedes aegypti dengue transmission in India increased by 1.69 per cent every year to reach 5.6 months.
This is due to factors such as global trade and travel, urbanisation, population growth, and climate variability and change, all of which create conditions favourable for dengue vectors and viruses to proliferate. This relentless upward trend in dengue cases poses a severe threat to our nation’s health and economy.
In 2022, India reported a staggering 2.3 lakh dengue cases with the highest number (67,271) in West Bengal. In the last one month alone, around 60 people have lost their lives to dengue across West Bengal, according to sources.
We are witnessing a similar trajectory in other states as well. As per the health department data, Haryana's dengue tally rose to 5,601 on 17 Oct, of which Gurgaon has recorded 234 cases. Health officials said 16 dengue patients are hospitalised at present.
Dr Virender Ydav, the Gurgaon chief medical officer said, “Dengue cases are going down in the city, but people still need to be careful and carry out all necessary precautions. We are carrying out fever surveillance to detect cases at the earliest so that proper treatment can be initiated in time.”
In the first half of October, Ahmedabad witnessed a huge surge in dengue cases, with 200 people being affected. Bihar reported 299 new cases of dengue on October 14 with Patna being the most affected city.
Lucknow is experiencing a surge in dengue infections with three new cases being reported every three hours for the past 15 days. Currently, new dengue infections are on a steady rise around the world.
The outbreaks are becoming larger and less predictable. All this reveals how the environment has become increasingly conducive to dengue transmission, making it imperative that we take action to reverse this trend Addressing the economic burden of dengue in India necessitates a comprehensive strategy.
While strengthening healthcare infrastructure and improving access to healthcare services are essential components, we must also prioritise prevention as our primary line of defence.
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