High Dengue Cases in Bihar

November 2, 2023

Bihar has been grappling with a severe dengue outbreak in 2023, with more than 15,000 reported cases and 59 deaths. This marks the highest number of dengue cases and fatalities in the state in the last five years, signifying a remarkable 608% increase in cases compared to 2018.

Protracted Monsoon and Mosquito Breeding

One major factor contributing to the surge in dengue cases is the delayed monsoon season, which typically ends by mid-September but extended until mid-October this year. This extended monsoon period created ideal conditions for mosquito breeding. Stagnant pools of water formed, especially in densely populated areas like Patna, providing a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Additionally, with the arrival of winter still pending, people continued to use water coolers, which can also serve as mosquito breeding sites.

Inadequate Sanitation and Defogging Efforts

The rise in dengue cases is exacerbated by a lack of sanitation and insufficient defogging measures taken by the state’s municipal corporations. For instance, Patna Municipal Corporation cited a shortage of resources as it struggled to address the untimely appearance of stagnant water pools across the city.

New Dengue Symptoms Emerge

Healthcare professionals have observed new symptoms associated with dengue cases for the first time. Patients are now experiencing liver and lung infections caused by dengue, in addition to a recurrence of fever every 2-3 hours, as opposed to the typical 6-8 hour cycle. Some patients have reported body itching and liver swelling.

Rising Demand for Platelets

The demand for platelets has surged in Patna over the past ten days. According to standard medical protocol, patients are typically given platelets when their count drops to 15,000, while a normal platelet count ranges from 150,000 to 450,000 per microliter of blood. However, due to the high dengue-related death toll this season, doctors have been administering platelets even when the count is around 25,000 as a precautionary measure.

Dengue Cases and Deaths Over the Past Five Years

In 2019, Bihar reported a sudden spike in dengue cases, with 6,712 cases, compared to 2,142 cases the previous year. Notably, there were no reported deaths in either year.
However, in 2020 and 2021, the number of dengue cases significantly decreased to 493 and 633, respectively. These years coincided with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dengue resurgence occurred in 2022, with Bihar being one of the worst affected states. The state recorded 13,972 cases and 32 deaths. Patna alone reported 9,256 cases with 15 deaths. This marked the first time since 2018 that Bihar had reported dengue-related deaths. These figures do not include patients who received treatment or died at private hospitals and clinics.

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