Spurt in dengue cases in rural dists as share of Hyd now drops to 44%

Hyderabad: Four years ago, 80% of all dengue cases in the state were concentrated in and around Hyderabad city. However, the pattern of the disease's spread has now changed, with 56% of cases being recorded from other districts. This shift has occurred despite testing facilities in districts not being comparable to those in the city. Experts point out that over the next few years, dengue will no longer be an urban disease and might spread more evenly across the districts. The latest statistics from the state govt show that Hyderabad, Medchal Malkajgiri, Rangareddy, and Sangareddy districts together recorded 4,079 cases. These account for 44% of the total 9,254 cases recorded in the state up to the first week of October. Experts suggest that this spread is likely to continue further into rural areas. "While usually, the spread of dengue starts from urban areas — Hyderabad City in our case — it slowly made inroads into rural areas about two years ago. Once the cycle of dengue begins, the spread will continue year after year unless the cycle is broken. It is difficult to break the cycle due to constant construction and migration in a growing city like ours," pointed out Dr Kiran Madhala, a healthcare expert from the Indian Medical Association. The Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which spreads the dengue virus, breeds in stagnated water, making potholes, construction sites, and even flower pots inside houses its ideal breeding spots. Once the mosquito lays an egg, it can remain dormant for a year and hatch the next year. " Once the mosquito reaches a particular location, it keeps breeding and spreads the virus. Hence, thorough scrubbing and extensive mosquito control measures have to be taken up," said a health department official.