There has been a spurt in dengue cases in Bengaluru in the last one month. From January to June 4, the number of positive cases in Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) limits was 531. As of July 6, the number has gone up to 1,830.
While 3,189 cases have tested positive in the State from January, areas in BBMP limits are the worst hit.
Hospitals are getting patients with suspected dengue almost every day. Government hospitals are recording full occupancy while several private hospitals are reporting a shortage of beds. Over the past few weeks, most hospitals are reporting a surge in viral fever and related ailments.
Doctors at the State-run Bowring & Lady Curzon Hospital and K.C. General Hospital are seeing at least 10 patients every day with viral fever and dengue-like symptoms, and the number of patients who need to be hospitalised is increasing.
Mohan Rajanna, Resident Medical Officer of K.C. General Hospital, said, “We have admitted over 50 patients for viral fever and suspected dengue in the last one week.”
Mosquito menace
Attributing the spurt to a surge in the density of mosquito population, Sudarshan Ballal, Chairman of Manipal Hospitals, said, on an average, doctors are seeing over 80 patients with viral fever every day in the out-patient department. “In June, we had hospitalised nearly 100 persons for dengue-like illness and other viral fevers. We are facing a shortage of beds,” he said.
Alleging that the BBMP has not taken adequate measures to check mosquito breeding before the vector-borne disease peaked, Dr. Ballal said the civic administration had failed in creating public awareness about dengue, chikungunya and other communicable diseases.
“We are noticing a cycle every two-three years. Last year, there was a surge in H1N1 cases. This year, it is dengue. While we have tested 1,700 samples for dengue this June, it was just 280 during the corresponding period last year. The onus is also on people to ensure their surroundings do not turn into breeding spots,” Dr. Ballal said.
Peak and fall
Dengue incidence was at its peak in 2017 when as many as 17,844 positive cases were reported. Flooded with patients, hospitals reported a shortage of beds.
Concerned over the alarming situation, the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry had deputed a team of experts to review the outbreak in Karnataka and provide technical assistance to stem the spread of the disease.
In 2018, the number of dengue cases came down to 4,848, indicating that the vector-borne disease was well under control in the State.
According to experts in the vector-borne disease control programme, although dengue was earlier associated with monsoon, it has now become a self-limiting viral fever which is prevalent all through the year. The dengue-causing mosquito breeds in stagnant water anywhere inside or outside homes.
Chikungunya
Of the total 765 chikungunya cases reported in the State from January till date, the highest number (135) was in Shivamogga district followed by Yadgir (107). As many as 38 cases have been reported in Bengaluru.
Most cases from East zone
The highest number of cases have been reported from East Zone (683) followed by Mahadevapura (328) and Bengaluru South (289).
Manoranjan Hedge, who was in-charge Chief Health Officer till last week, said the BBMP had taken up a door-to-door campaign to identify breeding spots and take up source reduction. “We have intensified prevention measures, and appeal to citizens to take all precautions to prevent breeding of mosquitoes in their neighbourhood,” he said.
Of the total 3,189 positive cases in the State, the highest number (1,830) was reported from BBMP limits, followed by Dakshina Kannada (206) and Shivamogga (176).
The State Health and Family Welfare Department has not recorded any dengue death so far this year.
