LUCKNOW, Nov. 1 -- The state capital continues to witness a sharp rise in dengue cases, with infections climbing to 98 in just eight days -- a worrying trend after months of relatively low numbers. Official data show that the total number of dengue cases reported in Lucknow from January to October 31 stands at 655, up from 557 on October 23. City health officer of the Lucknow Municipal Corporation, Praveen Kumar Srivastava, said that fogging and anti-larva spraying had been carried out zone-wise for several months. However, district malaria officer Ritu Srivastava said that compared to 2024, the situation is under control this year. "Around 1,000 cases were reported by the end of October last year. We have worked tirelessly even as anti-larva spraying and fogging have been intensified in areas where new cases have surfaced and in localities that remained waterlogged for a long time," she said. Srivastava said efforts were also underway to make people aware about preventive measures. "Rain creates favourable conditions for mosquito breeding as stagnant water allows larva to thrive, leading to a spike in dengue cases," she added. Dr Sheetal from the microbiology department at King George's Medical University (KGMU) said the spike in dengue cases could be attributed to the changing weather conditions, with unseasonal rains helping the Aedes aegypti mosquito thrive and transmit the virus....