HYDERABAD: In what could send alarm bells ringing, Hyderabad not only has the highest dengue caseload in the state with 594 out of 1,811 total cases, it also has a dengue mosquito house index of 16 — highest in the state.
A house index of 16 indicates that dengue mosquito is present in 16 out of every hundred dwellings. This is the highest value for the mosquito house index since 2018, officials said. The health department’s house index survey in areas with a high number of cases has also shown that the mosquito container index at 19 is the highest in the state.
“The container index reveals the number of households where mosquito breeding is prevalent. An index of 15 means that larval presence is found in 15 houses for every 100 buildings,” officials explained.
Dengue house and container index of more than 10 suggests a sensitive scenario with a higher number of cases. Along with Hyderabad, Mahbubnagar, Nirmal, Nizamabad, Rangareddy and Peddapalli have a house index value higher than 10. Officials said water stagnation in households is a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. Mosquitoes also breed on overhead tanks and open septic tanks as well as flower pots and discarded liquor bottles. “Dengue mosquitoes thrive on unused plastic objects, tyres and beer bottles which are dumped on rooftops,” an official said.
According to Dr Suresh Babu Yakkala, consultant physician at Apollo Hospitals, dengue fever is preventable. “Taking care of the surroundings is very important, especially during the rainy season. In this season, no serious cases have been reported, but incidence of fever is high,” he said.
Dr Suresh said that in some cases only platelets were required. “In general, if the platelet count is below 10,000, we will recommend platelet infusion. In extraordinary circumstances, platelet infusion is required even if the count is above 10,000,” he added.
