Bengaluru witnessed a drastic rise of 59% in dengue cases when compared to the previous year.
Bengaluru recorded a total number of 932 cases till May 15
Bengaluru: Dengue cases in Bengaluru rose at an alarming rate by 59% as compared to the previous year between January and May. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has attributed the surge to enhanced reporting of the cases.
This year the city has recorded a total number of 932 cases till May 15, according to the data shared by the BBMP. The total number of cases recorded in the previous year was 583 from January to May. However, the cases are fewer compared to 2020. In 2020 the city reported a total of 2076 cases during the same period. In 2021, 675 cases were reported and in 2022, 137 cases were reported in the first five months, which was said to be the lowest in the past four years.
“Approximately, 360 cases have been reported in the past 15 days in BBMP limits,” said Dr Sujatha S, National Vector-Borne Disease Control (NCVBDC) in charge of BBMP.
“With the sudden change in temperature, the cases have gone up. But this is normal and there’s no need to panic,” said Suralkar Vikas Kishor, special commissioner of health and family welfare at BBMP. “With the onset of rain in Bengaluru, cases tend to rise, and we have alerted the teams to remove larvae-infestation sites. Aedes mosquitoes, which causes dengue, breed in stagnant freshwater in containers, construction areas, around households, and apartments. We’ve started with source reduction and awareness programmes in anganwadis, colleges, and other public areas around the city,” he said.
BBMP chief health officer Dr Syed Sirajuddin Madani said: “We’ve started with source reduction and surveys. There have been sporadic cases, and we are yet to confirm the number. ”
The ASHA workers, doctors and other health officials are reaching out to people through door-to-door surveys to find out cases related to dengue fever. To raise awareness among residents and to educate them on the issue, the officials are also distributing pamphlets, ensuring that residents must know about preventive measures.
In addition to that, a social media campaign has already been launched to spread awareness among citizens. Meanwhile, awareness processions called Jathas are also being arranged in each ward along with the use of loudspeakers to make the announcement.
