This story is from August 20, 2017

Bengaluru reports 37% of dengue cases in Karnataka

Bengaluru reports 37% of dengue cases in Karnataka
(Representative image)
BENGALURU: The city seems to be in a viral grip of dengue -every third person who tests positive for dengue in Karnataka is from Bengaluru. The city has seen 4,280 dengue cases since January this year. That's 36.9% of the total dengue cases reported across Karnataka -11,610 as of August 16, 2017.
Alarmed by the spurt in dengue cases, a team of experts from the Union health ministry is currently on a visit in the state.
They are taking stock of the public health scenario, especially that of vector-borne diseases and their control measures. The team visited a private hospital in north Bengaluru on Saturday and had been to Tumakuru on Friday.
The numbers, however, haven't shaken the BBMP even a bit. According to BBMP chief medical officer (public health) Dr Lokesh MN, the number of dengue cases in Bengaluru should be analysed in the context of the city's population. “Detecting 4,280 dengue cases for a popu lation of one crore in eight months is not an alarming data. We have taken precautions to prevent mosquito breeding through household surveys and the same has been explained to the central team. There is no need to panic,“ Dr Lokesh said.
With 1,262 cases, east zone has seen the highest dengue incidence in the city.
Hospitals in Bengaluru have so far handled 969 dengue cases referred from neighbouring districts and taluks for treatment. Even as BBMP health officials remain in a denial mode on the high incidence of dengue cases in Bengaluru, hospitals in the city are seeing a steady rise in the number of patients seeking treatment for viral illnesses.Some of the multi-speciality hospitals admitted that since the beds are always full, they are forced to refer patients with dengue-like symptoms to other hospitals.

“We get no less than 60 patients with viral illnesses every day. At least twenty beds are always occupied by patients with dengue-like illnesses. These numbers are unusually high. In fact, half of the calls I get every day are requests for a hospital bed for suspected dengue patients,“ said Dr H Sudarshan Ballal, chairman, Manipal hospitals. “It's not the hour for blame game. The government, doctors and the public have to work together to curb the mosquito menace,“ Dr Ballal reminded. At Manipal, 10% of the total beds are currently filled with patients with dengue-like symptoms.
'10-15 viral infection cases daily'
M S Ramaiah Hospital is handling at least 10-15 viral infection cases daily in its outpatient blocks. “There is certainly a rise in the number of viral fever cases and certainly not all would be dengue. Most of our hospital beds are allocated to people suffering from dengue-like illnesses,“ said Dr Naresh Shetty, president, Ramaiah Hospital.
2016 data is incomplete: BBMP
Currently, it's impossible to draw a parallel with last year's dengue incidence since the BBMP doesn't have a comprehensive number explaining the 2016 scenario. “Last year, during August, we witnessed only 91 cases through NIV centres.The reportage of dengue from most city hospitals was not regular and many hospitals did not have the access or avoided informing BBMP about positive dengue cases,“ claimed BBMP chief medical officer (public health) Dr Lokesh M N. “This year, the number of cases appears to be more because of the higher reportage of dengue from all city hospitals and also because of a new software that we have launched, enabling hospitals to update the number of dengue patients admitted or diagnosed.“
TIMES VIEW
Tackling dengue is not rocket science. We know the cause and we know the preventive measures that need to be taken. Yet, the disease strikes with alarming regularity and Bengaluru city has had a high number of cases this year. While there obviously needs to be prevention at the individual and family level, the BBMP and health department must ensure fumigation of stagnant pools of water and open drains, which are potential breeding grounds for mosquitoes, is done regularly. The debilitating effects of dengue can be long-lasting but there seems to be no urgency to put an end to this menace.
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