Dengue deaths may be underreported

Dr. S Elango, former director Public Health, said. “In the name of storm water drains, local bodies construct wide open drains like canals. None of  them get Public Health clearance for projects like this, leading to a health hazard. They convert mosquito-free villages  to  mosquito villages, leading to outbreak of vector borne diseases and deaths.” 

Commenting on these findings, Professor Dr BK Tyagi, retired scientist, ICMR, said that a fresh look was necessary with respect to the particular mosquito breed. “While Aedes are day biters, we cannot overrule the presence of the mosquitoes during early night hours as well,” he said. He added that their existence is regularised in a setting like forest. “However, in a township, their presence is influenced by several factors like traffic and host conditions. There are several things that are changing in the world and we need a fresh study to understand the changing dynamics with respect to Aedes mosquitoes as well,” he said. 

The study is significant, given the fact that there have been 2,108 cases of dengue and five deaths due to the fever, as per figures reported on the website of the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme. However, experts also pointed out there could have been an underreporting of the deaths. “The five blocks namely Thiruttani, Thiruvalangadu, Gummudipoondi, Ekkadu, and Pallipattu are worst hit.  More than 20 deaths and thousands of cases have been reported in the media. The government claim is less and the causes are multifactorial,” a senior health department official said.