Bengaluru deploys 700 volunteers, 240 inspectors to curb rising dengue cases
Bengaluru: With dengue cases increasing in the city, health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao announced on Wednesday that 700 volunteers and 240 health inspectors will be deployed across Bengaluru to contain the spread of the disease.
From Jan 1 to May 18, Karnataka recorded 1,403 dengue cases — more than 600 of them in Bengaluru, according to the state health department.
To tackle the growing threat, the govt has launched a campaign titled Check, Clean, Cover in partnership with the govt and BBMP. The campaign will focus on three simple, but critical actions: check for stagnant water in and around homes, clean spaces that can collect water, like containers, pots, and drains, and cover water storage units to prevent mosquito breeding.
Speaking at the state-level National Dengue Day event in the city, Rao said, "Nearly 40 to 50 per cent of Karnataka's dengue cases are being reported from Bengaluru alone. We must take this seriously. Citizens need to be extra cautious and proactive."
The minister also urged health workers, Asha workers, and community volunteers to join hands in making Bengaluru a dengue-free city. "Aedes mosquitoes produce larvae in clean water units such as water tanks, household bins, old tires, and coconut shells, which are breeding grounds of dengue larvae.
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If all these places are kept as clean as possible, we will be able to bring dengue under complete control," he added.
Experts warn that weather conditions are making things worse. Dr Satyanarayana Mysore, chairman and head of pulmonology at Manipal Hospital, Old Airport Road, said, "The relentless rains and waterlogging have created ideal conditions for mosquitoes to breed. These rains, caused by a depression, are expected to continue for another three days. But the real test will come after; if we don't clear stagnant water quickly, we could see a sharp spike in dengue cases.
It'll take another two weeks to fully understand the impact."
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