Karnataka on High Alert! Over 7,000 Dengue Cases Reported This Year, Bengaluru Worst-Hit

Bengaluru: Karnataka government and citizens remain on high alert as the state as of July 7 registered 7,000 dengue cases this year. As of now, 7,165 people have been diagnosed with dengue, and six people succumbed to the disease.

Bengaluru became the worst hit with over 1,900 cases alone. Meanwhile, Chikmagalur reported 546 cases, Mysore 496 cases and Haveri reported 481 cases.

This comes amid the spike in dengue cases, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao launched an awareness campaign in this district headquarters town of Dakshina Kannada to eliminate breeding sites of the Aedes mosquito that causes the vector-borne disease on Friday last week.

Speaking to media, Rao said, "It has been suggested to identify hot spots where dengue fever is more common and open fever clinics. It is advised to conduct dengue testing on people with fever, who come from those regions where dengue is prevalent and provide treatment. This can prevent deaths."

The minister conducted a house-to-house inspection in parts of the city along with a few health workers and checked breeding areas of Aedes mosquitoes.

Rao, who is also the district in-charge Minister, inspected places where these mosquito larvae were produced in water stagnated in coconut shells, tubs and tyres and observed the measures being taken by the state's Health Department staff to destroy them.

Health workers are currently engaged in creating awareness among people. They urged people to ensure that water does not stagnate in places around their houses. Aedes mosquito breeding sites are being identified and destroyed, he added.