Karnataka, Bengaluru has been witnessing a surge in Dengue cases with 1036 dengue cases reported in the last three weeks alone. This record has marked a twofold increase since last year’s accounts, causing concern among the citizens of Bengaluru. Other than dengue cases, a considerable number of fever cases are also being reported in the state, worrying the healthcare department regarding the availability of adequate resources. Moreover, Chief Civic Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath tests positive for dengue as well, expected to resume his duties shortly upon recovery.
Chief Minister Calls For Reviewing, Fever Surveillances and Door-To-Door Surveys
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday asked authorities to conduct extensive fever surveillance and adopt necessary measures and precautions to prevent the vector-borne disease from spreading across the state. The CM also directed officials to check on the availability of beds, testing kits, and all required equipment in all government hospitals. A door-to-door survey to create awareness is encouraged among Accredited Social Health Activists, nursing students, and other volunteers. According to the Government of India’s guidelines, the dengue case fatality rate (CFR) must not exceed 0.5%, with extensive attempts Karnataka still stands at a fair 0.09%.
Cases Of Dengue And Chikungunya Reported In Different Parts Of The State
Chief Health Officer, Dr. Syed Madani reported that in the first half of 2024 alone, Karnataka had witnessed 5000 dengue cases, with the current total number of cases rising to 5374, quadrupling last year’s figures. Five deaths due to dengue have been reported as of June 24, four of them being children and one being a 32-year-old male. Two of the deaths were from Hassan while others were reported from Shivamogga. Health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao held a meeting with other health officials and gave instructions to test all individuals with dengue-like symptoms. The Eastern part of Bengaluru and the Mahadevpura zones have especially witnessed a surge in dengue cases among construction workers. The southern part of the state is grappling with another mosquito-borne disease, Chikungunya. Bengaluru, Chikkamagaluru, Mysuru, Haveri, Shivamogga, Chitradurga and Dakshina Kannada districts report majority of the cases. One major contributor to rising health concerns among citizens is the unusual weather conditions in the state. The lack of sufficient rain and unexpected cold winds account for a breeding ground for mosquitoes.