The onset of pre-monsoon rains in Mysuru has resulted in the spread of mosquito borne-dengue cases across the district and over 102 cases were proved positive in May.
The spread of the vector-borne disease is causing grave concern and the district Health Department has geared up to check the spread of disease. S. Chidambara, District Vector Borne diseases officer, told The Hindu that dengue cases were reported in all 340 residential areas in 62 wards in the city, and special teams of doctors and health workers had been formed to create awareness among people.
The department had taken up “source reduction” measures where larva would be destroyed at source. People have been asked not to store water for long time as it may give room for larva formation, he said, and noted that the Aedes mosquitoes, which cause dengue, could not fly over 100 m, and this was the reason more focus was on eradication at ground level.
The teams apart from examining each house for larva is also preventing water stagnation, so as to prevent mosquito breeding.
The teams are visiting not less than 150 houses in an area per day, and all houses are being checked thoroughly. Pamphlets are being circulated and mike-mounted vehicles have been deployed to create awareness, said Dr. Chidambara.
People with fever are being subjected to examination as dengue spreads rapidly, he said. The areas where more than two cases were reported in the past few days are Nazarabad, V.V. Mohalla, Vidyaranyapura, Kattappanagaradi in K.R. Mohalla, Satyanagar, Shakthinagar, Rangadhama, Manasa road in Ittigegudu, J.C. Nagar, Jockey quarters, Kanakagiri, Gayathripuram, Ghousia Nagar, Jayanagar, Kuvempunagar, R.K. Nagar, Jalapuri, and Sunnada Keri.
Dr. Chidambara said climatic factors directly influenced dengue cases, and he hinted at forming rapid action forces to treat and control the disease if more cases were reported in the coming days.
Over 582 dengue positive cases were reported last year and of it 351 were in Mysuru city and 231 in Mysuru rural. A couple of thousand dengue cases were suspected last year.
Besides, 600 people from neighbouring districts who had come to Mysuru were suspected to have dengue and about 45% of them were proved positive.
