Delhi suffers from a dengue outbreak every year. But the change in weather cycles, temperature and rainfall patterns recently, have led to an expansion of mosquito breeding periods. There has been a consistent rise in the number of infections over the years. The duration for which the outbreaks last has also increased because the weather conditions are becoming increasingly favorable for mosquitoes to keep breeding.
For instance, the dengue outbreak season used to start late in the summer and end just after the monsoons in September. But for a few years, the rainfall patterns have changed either because of the shift in rain-making wind systems or the increase in the humidity trapped in the local atmosphere because of pollution and aerosols. Winters start with warmer temperatures and there is more rainfall than what used to be the case, this prolongs the mosquito breeding season thus prolonging the chances of dengue infection.
“This year we saw that November was completely dry; usually there are three-four western disturbances in this month. But in January, all rainfall records were broken...The rainfall patterns in Delhi are becoming more erratic. Shorter and more intense spells are resulting in waterlogging. Such stagnant water is the ideal breeding ground for dengue spreading mosquitoes,” said Mahesh Palawat, vice-president (meteorology and climate change), Skymet Weather Services.
Delhi received 88.2 mm of rain, breaching the record for the highest rainfall recorded in January in 122 years.
However, some of the changes in disease pattern is also being attributed to the change in mosquitoes themselves, because they have evolved to sustain what was considered unfavourable for them.
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