The number of people affected by dengue and chikungunya in Kolar is on the rise. The vector-borne infections have been reported from most of the 35 wards in the city. Many residents are flocking government as well as private hospitals for treatment.
The infections are on the rise following rains in May and June, which has led to mosquito menace. In the government hospitals, 52 dengue cases and 11 chikungunya cases have been confirmed from the tests conducted by District Surveillance Unit. In the private hospitals, 89 cases of dengue have been confirmed.
The vector-borne infections have been reported mostly from Gowripet, Harohalli, Palasandra Layout, Gandhinagar and Vinobhanagar localities.
S.A. Ramprakash, commissioner of Kolar City Municipal Council, said apart from regular fogging in all wards, awareness programmes were also being taken up. However, the problem is yet to come under control, he admitted.
Personnel from the Department of Health and Family Welfare, District Surveillance Unit and ASHA workers are visiting households to survey the existence of larva, besides collecting blood samples, he said.
During inspection of 12,113 houses so far, larva had been detected in as many as 420 houses, sources said. Awareness is also being created among the residents to maintain cleanliness and against storing water in unsafe manner. Larva eating fish are being released into the water sumps and drums as a precautionary measure.
A number of CMC members have expressed displeasure against the local administration. "Failure to provide proper drinking water and unhygienic condition due to piling of garbage following lack of maintenance by the CMC has aggravated the situation,” councillors of 19 wards said in a complaint filed to the Deputy Commissioner K.V. Thrilokchandra.
