The medical experts are intrigued by reports of fresh dengue cases in the State capital even though the winters have set in. On Wednesday, six new cases of the disease were reported by the health department in the city taking the total number of cases to 754 this season.
The common observation is that with decline of temperature the virus of the disease becomes dormant, which result in general absence of this disease in winters. This time, however, the dengue cases are continuing to pop up despite the mercury taking a downward trend.
On Tuesday also, 12 new cases of the dengue were reported positive after the Enzyme linked Amino Sorbent Assay (ElISA) test. On Wednesday, apart from six new cases, 46 suspected cases of the disease were also reported by the district health department. ElISA test would now be conducted on these suspected cases which in all probability would further push the total number of positive cases.
The district Vector-borne diseases officer JP Bahuguna said that normally dengue cases are not reported when the temperature goes below 15 degrees but this time, the cases are still being reported though their frequency is less now.
He informed that the 11 patients of the disease are admitted in Doon hospital while Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust (HIHT), Jollygrant and Mahant Indiresh hospital have two and three patients respectively.
The assistant Professor of Zoology at DAV PG College here Pushpendra Kumar Sharma told The Pioneer that there is nothing uncommon in cases of dengue being reported at this point of time.
“The virus of dengue spreads from one human being to other through the agency of Aedes Aezypti Mosquito so the chances of spread of the disease are there. It is true that the virus becomes less active in winters but nowadays, the maximum temperature is still in higher side of 30 degrees though the lower temperature has fallen to around 14 degrees. We would definitely witness a steep fall in the number of dengue cases in days to come,” he observed.
The symptoms of the disease are persistent high fever, rashes, headache and pain in the joints. In the acute cases, the platelets number decrease drastically, which may prove fatal for the patient.
The tiger mosquito (called due to the characteristic stripes on its body) strikes during day time and it is suggested that people should wear full sleeved clothes to prevent mosquito bite.