Telangana dengue count surpasses of last yr, crosses 8,000 cases

Hyderabad: Still in the thick of the dengue season, Telangana has already surpassed last year's record with 8,027 cases till Sept 20. From Jan to Dec 2023, the number was 8,016.
The peak dengue season lasts from June to Sept, but in recent years cases have been reported throughout the year. While official figures put the positivity rate at 8-10% of cases, doctors suggest that the actual numbers are higher.
"We expect the numbers to continue to rise till mid-Oct, as the peak season in the last two to three years seems to extend to this month.Every time there is a fresh spell of rain followed by dry days, the breeding of mosquitoes accelerates and due to frequent spells of rain and dry days, we are seeing more cases," said a health official.
Meanwhile, dengue cases are known to increase every three to four years due to changes in strains. The last major peak was in 2019, when 13,331 cases were recorded in the state.
Experts had predicted an increase in cases this year due to the recurring pattern of cases. "The peak happens every time the strain of the virus mutates into a more aggressive one and starts spreading rapidly," said Dr M Karuna, dengue expert, adding that with the recent rains and floods in many parts of the city, dengue could spike in the coming months.