New Delhi: India continues to notice a rise in vector-borne diseases including dengue, malaria and Zika virus, with the onset of monsoon. Seeing the spike in dengue cases, the Health Ministry confirmed on Saturday that 32,091 dengue incidences have been reported nationwide. The numbers are much higher than in the same period as the previous year. Amidst this, the health department in Madurai district has established a cyclic pattern of epidemic form in the occurrence of dengue cases once in five to six years in rural as well as urban regions. The study has been published in the Tamil Nadu Journal of Public Health and Medical Research, it is mainly based on fever surveillance and dengue testing from 2012 to 2023.
According to the officials of the health department, the findings will be useful to forecast future outbreaks of dengue and take necessary preventive measures. Tamil Nadu has witnessed multiple epidemics in the past, with a cyclical trend occurring every five years. There are multivarious efforts to reduce the risk of dengue outbreak which is an endemic.
Preventive measures may mitigate risk
The major objective of the study is to assess the preventive and control measures to combat the spread of Dengue and prevent the cyclic trend of outbreaks in Tamil Nadu. The researchers analysed Dengue cases being reported in Tamil Nadu from 2012 to 2023. The data for the study includes all the Dengue cases reported in the Sentinel Surveillance Hospitals (SSH) of Tamil Nadu under the National Vector Borne Disease Control (NVBDC) Program.
Positive mosquito pool was higher in 2021
Dengue cases were identified throughout the year with an increase in cases during the monsoon season. While since 2012, there are 2 peaks, one in 2012 with 13,204 cases and the other in 2017 with 23,294 cases.
As per the analyses, the number of positive mosquito pools for viral markers by RT PCR was higher in 2021 and the commonly used anti-larval and anti-adult chemicals were Temephos 50 per cent EC, Technical Malathion and Pyrethrum extract 2%.
The health department in Madurai district has established a cyclic pattern of epidemic form in the occurrence of dengue cases once in five to six years in rural as well as urban regions. The study has been published in the Tamil Nadu Journal of Public Health and Medical Research, it is mainly based on fever surveillance and dengue testing from 2012 to 2023. Health Conditions Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
