While almost one-third of Thailand was inundated with floodwaters, the number of dengue fever cases fell by around 36 percent.
The Thai health department said that the floods, which killed more than 800 people, are believed to have interrupted the breeding cycle of the mosquito that carries the disease.
- Dengue cases in Thailand are down 36% despite floods.
Communicable Disease Control officials noted a total of 1,056 cases of the potentially fatal illness were reported in the month of January this year, including one suspected fatality. This figure was over one-third less when compared with the same time in 2011.
Dengue, which often pandemic levels in the sprawling capital of Bangkok, is a water-borne illness, transmitted by the Aedes-aegypti mosquito. This particular variety of mosquito prefers to lay its eggs in clean, still water usually found in an urban environment.
During the two months when floodwaters kept much of the city at bay, the condition of the floodwaters rendered the conditions unsuitable for the Aeges aegypti mosquito to breed.
“The floods actually interrupted the Aeges aegypti’s life cycle and has resulted in a reduction in dengue,” according to dengue expert Mahamard.
