Mysuru may have been adjudged as the “cleanest city” in the country as per Government of India’s Swachch Bharat ranking. But, the state’s Health Department is sceptical. For, Mysuru, ironically, also has the worst record of dengue cases in the state.
“Mysuru district has reported the highest number of dengue cases in Karnataka so far this year,” revealed U.T. Khader, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, while addressing a press conference here on Tuesday. Mangaluru district tops the state in the number of malaria cases, he added.
Though the district has reported a total of 131 cases of dengue so far this year, Mysuru city accounts for as many as 95 cases. Similarly, 66 cases of chikungunya and 16 cases of malaria are among the other vector-borne diseases reported in Mysuru since January this year.
Identifying unhygienic environment, such as choked drains and piling up of waste and garbage among the reasons for the outbreak of dengue, chikungunya and malaria, Mr. Khader said the vector-borne diseases were not a challenge for the health department as were the choked drains and uncleared garbage.
He urged the health officers to identify choked drains and uncleared garbage and bring it to the notice of the civic authorities so that necessary action can be taken to ensure hygienic environment.
He appealed to the public to take steps to prevent stagnation of water in tanks or water pots at home. Such stagnant water was an ideal breeding ground for the disease causing mosquitoes.
With the possibility of cases of dengue rising further in the rainy season, the Health Department has planned a weeklong awareness programme from June 16 to 22 when personnel will visit slums, construction sites, schools, hospitals and other places to create awareness among the public about mosquito-borne diseases and the precautionary measures needed.
Though there have been no cases of deaths due to dengue so far this year, Mr Khader cautioned the general public against ignoring fever with cold, which continues for more than two days. “Please consult a doctor if the fever persists”, he said.
Mysuru District Vector-borne diseases control programme officer Dr S Chidambara told The Hindu that the Government lab in Mysuru had checked more than 800 samples received from various hospitals so far this year, using the kits supplied by National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune. No other laboratory carries out tests for dengue and other vector-borne diseases in Mysuru, he said.
