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‘Nothing new about disease’

Dengue spreads because of expanding geographic distribution of the four dengue viruses and of their mosquito vectors.

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Dengue may have become the scourge of Delhi, but Mumbai’s Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) authorities have been battling mosquito-borne diseases like dengue and malaria every year — and this monsoon is no exception.

BMC health department recorded 114 suspected cases of dengue in September and four died because of dengue. In August, 169 cases of dengue were suspected and there were three deaths because of the disease. The World Health Organisation (WHO) at present estimates there may be 50 million cases of dengue infection worldwide every year. Some 2,500 million people — two-fifths of the world’s population — are now at a risk from dengue. The spread of dengue is attributed to expanding geographic distribution of the four dengue viruses and of their mosquito vectors, the most important of which is the predominantly urban species Aedes aegypti. A rapid rise in urban populations is bringing even greater number of people in contact with this mosquito, especially in areas that are favourable for mosquito breeding.

While malaria has been reported predominantly in areas that have seen a rise in construction activity, dengue has been reported from all parts of the city. “We have been seeing patients — at least five — with clinical symptoms of dengue regularly since last month,” said Dr Ashish Tiwari, physician, Bombay Hospital. The patients are from suburbs as well as south Mumbai.

The reason behind this is while the female anopheles mosquito (which causes malaria) breeds in stagnant water bodies like puddles, Aedes aegypti (which spreads dengue) breeds in fresh water. “Environment such as the inside of flower vases with stored water, decorative fountains inside homes, commodes that haven’t been used for a few days, is conducive to the breeding of these mosquitoes, which takes eight to ten days,” said Tiwari. Another difference, according to experts, is while the female anopheles mosquito bites during the night, the Aedes aegypti usually bites during the day.

Diseases caused by mosquitoes are a common occurrence in areas that receive heavy rainfall. “Where ever the rainfall is in excess, there is a huge possibility of dengue and malaria,” said Dr SN Acharya, general practitioner from Kurla. The other factors which help the breeding of vectors such as mosquitoes were humidity, optimum temperature and over crowding, said Tiwari.

Mumbai, with its huge population, heavy rainfall, humid climate and optimum temperature between 25 and 35°C, is a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. BMC authorities, in the city, having learnt from the past few years, have already taken measures to control mosquitoes such as fogging and observing ‘dry days’ where all the water stored in the house is emptied and kept dry for a day, in a bid to curb both kinds of mosquitoes.

Role of BMC

The BMC’s Vector Control Branch, led by the Pest Control Officer of each ward, monitors potential breeding places as well as complaints from citizens. From July to September, at least 978 localities were monitored and 3,490 times treated till September 30, 2006. Seven-thousand tyres were destroyed in August and September, which were the prime breeding source for Aedes aegypti.

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