Experts are concerned over rising incidences of dengue cases in the mountainous districts of State. The Health Department has so far reported eight cases of dengue in Pauri, which is a predominantly mountainous district.
Dengue and other vector borne diseases were rare in high altitude areas due to near absence of the mosquitoes. The head of Department of Zoology, DAV College here, Dr RK Johri told The Pioneer that the change in climate is one of the reasons of increasing cases of dengue in mountainous areas. He said that a study of scientific journals prove that prior to 1975 the prevalence of mosquitoes in hills was not reported. Johri said that in cold climate the life cycle of the mosquitoes get affected due to which the larval and pupa stages get prolonged. Johri heads a team of research scholars of the college engaged in research on Dengue. This team is engaged in research on the vector of dengue, the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquito. These varieties of mosquito act as vector of Dengue virus and infect humans.
The District vector borne diseases officer, JP Bahuguna said that normally Aedes mosquitoes are not reported at an altitude of more than 2500 mts but the climate change has ensured that the mosquitoes are now ascending the hills. He however added that most of the cases of dengue in Pauri district are being reported from Kotdwar and Srinagar towns. These towns are warmer and the climate here is suited for multiplication of mosquitoes.
One of the major concerns of the experts is that in absence of proper medical facility the diseases like dengue can assume epidemic proportions in hills. “The health system is finding it very tough to control the menace of dengue in state capital even with best facilities at their disposal. In the mountainous regions reeling under near absence of health facilities, dengue can wreak havoc,’’ said one such expert.