The Health Department is gearing up to tackle vector-borne diseases and other viral infections in the State, Health Minister U.T. Khader said here on Saturday.
Addressing presspersons after chairing a meeting of health officials, including those from the districts, the Minister said that though hospitals across the State had seen a spike in dengue cases since the first week of June, a comparison of official figures from this year and previous years indicated that the disease was not of epidemic proportions.
While 793 positive cases have been recorded from January till July 17 this year in the State, the figure was much higher (2,386, including 79 from Bangalore) in the corresponding period last year, he said. To create more awareness about preventing mosquitoes from breeding, the Minister said his department would collaborate with local bodies and builders. This would ensure there was no water stagnation and hygiene was maintained, especially at construction sites.
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District health officers (DHOs) had been warned that they would be held responsible for any lapse in preventing the spread of the disease, Mr. Khader said.
‘No dearth of funds’ The Minister said there was no dearth of funds and Rs. 68.65 lakh (allocated under the National Rural Health Mission) had been released to all districts to take up dengue control measures.