53 dengue cases reported in J&K so far this year: Official

53 dengue cases reported in J&K so far this year: Official

People asked to take measures to prevent mosquito bite

Jahangeer Ganaie

Srinagar, Aug 15 (KNO): Dengue cases are going to rise as monsoon culminates in Jammu and Kashmir with 53 cases reported this year so far.

State Surveillance Officer, Dr Harjeet Rai told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that this year, 53 cases of dengue have been reported in Jammu and Kashmir including 3 from Kashmir division.

Officials told KNO that dengue cases are projected to surge post monsoon in Jammu and Kashmir and advised people to take ‘preemptive measures’ to combat the painful mosquito-borne disease in the absence of any vaccine.

They said dengue caused by viruses carried by infected mosquitoes has always been a health concern especially and people need to take precautions to protect themselves from falling prey to the virus.

They asked people to use mosquito repellents and wear full sleeves shirts so as to save themselves from the Aedes mosquitoes bite, which they said choose to breed in stagnant water accumulated by water logging mainly during monsoon.

“The better way to keep ourselves away from dengue is to prevent mosquitoes from accessing egg-laying habitats by environmental management and modification, disposing of solid waste properly and removing artificial man-made habitats that can hold water and covering, emptying and cleaning of domestic water storage containers on a weekly basis besides applying appropriate insecticides to water storage outdoor containers,” they said

“The Aedes aegypti mosquito is considered the primary vector of dengue. “It could breed in natural containers such as tree holes and bromeliads but nowadays it has well adapted to urban habitats and breeds mostly in man-made containers including buckets, mud pots and discarded containers and used tyres, storm water drains etc which must be cleared and cleaned frequently,” officials added.

The mosquito remains active mostly at dusk and dawn and people must wear clothes that minimise skin exposure to these mosquitoes, they said.

Meanwhile officials told that in 2013 highest number of cases 1,837 were reported so far besides that two cases were reported in year 2009, none in 2010, 03 in 2011, 16 in 2012, 1837 in year 2013, 04 in 2014, 153 in 2015, 79 in 2016, 488 in 2017, 214 in 2018, 439 in 2019, 53 in 2020, 1,709 in 2021, however over 8000 cases and 18 deaths were reported in J&K last year—(KNO)