Hyderabad: Lack of awareness regarding the dangers posed by the day-time mosquito Aedes aegypti, and the need to ensure that conditions that breed the vermin are not created, have led to the number of dengue cases reaching an all-time high.
Confirmed cases stand at 300 in government hospitals but the private hospitals say they have more than 3,000 patients in the city alone.
Private diagnostic laboratories from the last week of August till now are getting more than 1,000 blood samples every day and they claim that of these, 100 show positive for dengue.
The sheer rise in numbers shows that the day-time mosquito protection measures have completely failed.
The day-time protection measures require not allowing fresh water stagnation outside homes, in water trays, in animal water pots and in the corners of terraces and in areas surrounding homes.
The Aedes aegypti breeds in fresh water and for that reason water storage tanks, water cans and plastic containers which hold water must be emptied and dried.
The dry day process has not been followed. The GHMC has finally woken up and declared Friday as dry day.
Dr Chakradhar Tammareddy, a resident of Nizampet, explained, “The dengue mosquito is very active during the. But it has been noted that there are no repellents or mosquito control measures used during the day. Those who keep water trays for flowers, animal water pots and also find percolation of water at points around their homes must alert the authorities as these are breeding grounds.”
He said the dengue mosquito can travel only a few metres in its life cycle. If one home is affected it means that the mosquito is active in the vicinity.
“The authorities must visit those homes, counsel people and generate preventive awareness,” he said.
The root problem being noted in the city is that people and government both have not taken the presence of mosquito seriously and basic measures have been given a miss which has resulted in the spread of the disease.
