Monsoon season certainly brought a sigh of relief for us, but continual showers have now started to affect our health and day-to-day life. Heavy rains have helped in lowering the temperature, making the weather cool and pleasant, but due to poor infrastructure and drainage systems, many parts of the National Capital Region have become potential breeding grounds for mosquitoes. The problem? Increased breeding is causing an alarming increase in the cases of vector-borne diseases. Hospitals are reporting higher-than-usual cases of mosquito-borne illnesses, with dengue being on top of the list, followed by malaria and chikungunya.
Dengue Cases in Delhi NCR - Current Statistics
This year, Delhi is seeing record-breaking rains with 286.7 mm of rain in August alone. If weather reports are to be believed, the rains may cross the 300 mm mark, which will leave the capital region with a surplus this monsoon season. Due to continuous heavy rainfall, there are pools of stagnant water in many areas of the region that act as a breeding ground for mosquitoes. This is a major reason for the rapidly increasing dengue cases lately, with faster growth as compared to previous years.
As per reports, about 121 cases of dengue have been reported in August so far and the numbers are expected to increase as heavy rains are predicted by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). Hospitals are admitting dozens of patients on a weekly basis ahead of the peak dengue season, which is alarming.
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How To Prepare Yourself For a Dengue Outbreak
As we know, the peak season of vector-borne illnesses has arrived; therefore, it is essential that we exercise all necessary preventive measures to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe. Here are some tips to prevent dengue shared by Dr Bhavani Prasad Gudavalli, Head of the Department of Critical Care, CARE Hospitals, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad:
- Protective clothing: Wear long-sleeved clothes when visiting a mosquito-prone environment.
- Use mosquito repellent: Not just indoors, but you also need to apply a good repellent outdoors to keep mosquitoes away. Be cautious during early morning and late afternoon before sunset, as dengue mosquitoes bite during these hours.
- Keep surroundings clean: Stagnant water acts as the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. Clean your surroundings and discard any standing water collected in containers or pools.
- Use mosquito screens: To prevent mosquitoes from entering the house, place net screens on windows, doors and other potential access points.
Besides following the above-mentioned, you can also ask your local authorities to do fogging at regular intervals to eliminate mosquitoes. Apart from taking all necessary precautions, you must also stay vigilant of the signs and symptoms of dengue, malaria and other mosquito-borne illnesses to receive medical aid on time.