Hyderabad Witnesses Drop in Dengue and Malaria Cases, but Flu Cases Rise
In Hyderabad, the number of dengue, malaria, and chikungunya cases has significantly declined over the past few weeks. Hospitals in the city are now reporting these cases in double digits instead of the alarming numbers seen earlier. However, as the weather changes, the city is seeing a rise in flu, cold, and cough cases.
Government hospital officials have noted a decrease in the number of Out-Patients (OPs). For instance, Fever Hospital in Nallakunta saw an average of 1,500 out-patients daily during August and September. This number has now dropped to between 400 and 500 patients per day.
Dengue cases have shown a marked decline. In September, 1,542 cases were reported, which fell to 854 in October. By November 22, only 168 cases had been registered. Similarly, malaria cases dropped from 26 in September to 13 in October, with just five cases reported so far in November. Chikungunya cases also reduced, from 183 in September to 74 in October, and further down to 13 in November.
According to a World Health Organisation (WHO) report, Telangana had become a high transmission zone for dengue globally, reporting the highest number of cases. Experts attribute this trend to factors such as climate change, rapid urbanization, and year-round construction activities in the city. They emphasized the importance of better coordination and collaboration among government and health stakeholders to combat the issue.
Meanwhile, city hospitals are seeing a rise in flu, cold, and cough cases. Doctors believe this is due to the drop in temperatures, particularly at night, which has gone down to 16 degrees Celsius and is expected to fall further. Senior physician Dr. S. Satyanarayana advised residents to take precautions during the cold wave, focus on immunity-building, and engage in regular exercise to stay healthy.
