Prevalence of Aedes Mosquito Larvae in Various Hospitals of Delhi in 2024

Abstract

Introduction: Dengue Virus (DENV) accounts for significant morbidity and mortality in its complications. It has become a major health concern for the public. Aedes aegypti is the principal vector responsible for DENV transmission in Delhi. DENV has four serotypes (DENV 1–4). There is no approved vaccine or licensed therapeutics against dengue. Therefore, it causes a high disease burden, especially in areas like Delhi, which is densely populated. Vector surveillance with identification and destruction of potential mosquito breeding sites, is the only mainstay for the prevention of transmission of dengue. This study focuses on the prevalence of Aedes mosquito larvae among various hospitals across Delhi.
Method: In the study, Aedes larval surveillance has been performed in 13 government hospitals in Delhi. The study period for conducting the survey was from April 2024 to August 2024. To determine the container positivity, different mosquito breeding sites were searched and checked.
Result: A total of 3,471 containers were checked for Aedes aegypti larvae. out of which 144 containers were found positive. The total Container Index (CI) was found to be 4.1 where the maximum container index (CI) was 5.2 and the minimum was 2.2. The most preferred container for Aedes breeding was found in plastic containers (40.28%), earthen pots (23.61%), and iron containers (10.62%).
Conclusion: This study emphasises sustainable entomological surveillance so that DENV transmission can be prevented timely and proper preventive measures can be taken as patients in hospitals are the most vulnerable sites to DENV infection.