Kerala reports 3,565 dengue cases and 17 deaths this year
Kerala is dealing with a serious spike in dengue, with 3,565 confirmed cases so far this year.
Just this week, 173 new cases were reported, 105 on Wednesday and 68 on Thursday.
Sadly, the outbreak has led to 17 deaths and another 15 are suspected to be caused by dengue.
May June surge exceeds 2,000 infections
May and June saw the biggest surge, with more than 2,000 infections combined.
Experts say the mix of rain and warm weather creates perfect conditions for mosquitoes.
Dengue sticks around in Kerala all year thanks to all four virus types circulating.
Specialists stress monitoring dengue strain shifts
After a major outbreak in 2017 linked to a shift in virus strain, specialists now stress keeping an eye on which dengue types are spreading.
Shifts in dominant strains can trigger complications like shock syndrome, so monitoring is key for staying ahead of future outbreaks.