Lucknow, Sept 6: Still recovering from COVID-19 pandemic, Uttar Pradesh is faced with yet another challenge — a huge spike in cases of dengue, a mosquito-borne viral infection.

At least 52 lives have been lost to the viral infection of which 40 were children while its western districts have recorded over 100 cases. Firozabad and Mathura are the worst affected.

Western UP in severe grip of Dengue

In worst affected Firozabad district, as many as 105 fresh cases of dengue viral fever surfaced on Sunday and the patients were admitted to the government medical college. No death was reported during the day. 51 people have died so far in the district due to dengue viral fever.

Meanwhile, a heart wrenching video of mother of a 12-year-old child, infected of dengue falling at the feet of doctor in a Firozabad hospital after waiting for hours without getting admitted, went viral.

In Mathura district too, four more villages have reported dengue-like fever, though no fatality has been reported.

Increase in Dengue in Eastern UP

The cases of viral fever have also started extending towards eastern UP, showing an increase by 25 percent over the past 10 days.

In Prayagraj, 170 children were admitted to Motilal Nehru Hospital on Sunday with viral fever. Many of these patients require oxygen support. According to local reports, more than 30 cases of dengue have been reported in Prayagraj so far. At least a dozen of these are in rural areas.

Cases of viral fever have also been reported from Varanasi and Basti – two other key cities in eastern Uttar Pradesh.

The district administration has said that these cases are the result of widespread rain and floods and there is nothing new.

Dengue is widespread throughout the tropics, with local variations in risk influenced by rainfall, temperature, relative humidity and rapid urbanisation.