Hyderabad has witnessed a sharp increase in dengue cases, with 2,731 new cases reported this year—the highest among all districts in Telangana. Since January 2024, the state has recorded a total of 9,254 dengue cases. In addition to dengue, the state is also grappling with other mosquito-borne illnesses such as chikungunya and malaria, with Bhadradri-Kothagudem district seeing a significant spike. As of now, 379 cases of chikungunya have been recorded across the state.
Doctors says that, this surge to recent heavy rainfall, waterlogging, and rising temperatures, which have created ideal conditions for mosquitoes to breed, leading to a rise in infections.
Telangana recorded 8,016 dengue cases in 2023. However, this year’s numbers have already surpassed that total, with three months still left in the year, underscoring the severity of the current outbreak.
Telangana’s Health Minister, Damodara Rajanarsimha, has urged local authorities to step up efforts to control the spread of these diseases. He also called on the public to take precautionary steps such as eliminating stagnant water sources where mosquitoes breed and maintaining proper hygiene to prevent further outbreaks.
Despite the concerning rise in cases, health officials report that Hyderabad has seen a slight drop in dengue cases in early October. For instance, while the city recorded 554 cases in September 2023, this year only 398 cases were reported during the same month.
Officials from Osmania General Hospital (OGH) highlighted that many of the fever cases they are seeing are seasonal, including dengue and chikungunya. Though the number of severe cases has decreased, they pointed out that out of every 100 dengue patients treated at the hospital, only about 10 require hospitalization, mostly due to complications like low platelet count. OGH’s outpatient department handles around 500 patients daily, of which 80-90 present with fever symptoms, and 5-10 of these cases may need emergency care due to dengue or other seasonal diseases. The public is being urged to remain cautious, follow preventive measures, and seek medical help if necessary to reduce the spread of these disease.
