Dengue Cases Surge: 216 suspected dengue cases in Pune; Past 8,000 in Karnataka

The Karnataka government has launched an aggressive campaign to combat dengue, with centralized and district-level war rooms coordinating the response.

Dengue cases in Karnataka have surged past 8,000, prompting the state government to establish ‘Dengue War Rooms’ across the region. As of July 11, a total of 8,221 cases have been identified, with Bengaluru, under the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) limits, reporting 2,463 cases.

In Pune, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has reported five cases of dengue and five cases of chikungunya within a week, with 216 suspected dengue cases in July. The city faces a threat from Zika, dengue, and chikungunya, with active transmission of these vector-borne diseases

In response to the alarming rise in cases amid the ongoing monsoon, the Karnataka government issued a directive on July 10 to enhance monitoring and management efforts. A central war room has been set up at Arogya Soudha in Bengaluru, with additional control rooms established in all districts and within the BBMP. These war rooms will function as pivotal hubs for data collection and situation assessment, ensuring coordinated and timely responses to the dengue crisis.

The government has outlined several critical measures in its circular:

1. War Room Setup: A centralized war room at Arogya Soudha for statewide monitoring and district-level control rooms to manage local data and interventions.

2. District Task Force Formation: Each district will constitute a task force chaired by the Deputy Commissioner, including key officials from health, urban development, education, and NGO sectors to ensure a multi-faceted approach to dengue control.

3. Bi-weekly House Inspections: Health staff and volunteers will conduct bi-weekly inspections to identify and eliminate mosquito breeding sites. Urban Local Bodies will engage volunteers for this task, compensating them at Rs 200 per day.

4. Community Engagement Campaigns: Weekly public campaigns promoting cleanliness and dengue prevention will involve local representatives and community members, motivating the public to maintain hygienic surroundings and properly manage water storage.

5. Hotspot Identification and Response: Districts must identify dengue hotspots and intensify source reduction activities, including mass spraying of larvicides and fogging. Fever clinics will be activated, and mosquito repellent oils will be distributed in these areas.

6. Healthcare Preparedness: Hospitals are instructed to reserve beds for dengue patients and ensure the availability of testing kits, essential drugs, and blood components. Free testing and treatment will be provided across all healthcare facilities.

7. Strict Treatment Protocols: Medical officers must adhere to the treatment protocols specified in the Government of India’s 2023 guidelines, with the utilization of Tele ICU facilities encouraged for monitoring severe cases.

The intermittent rains and water stagnation in many parts of Pune have created favorable conditions for mosquito breeding. Containment activities have been initiated in areas reporting dengue and chikungunya cases. “In July so far, 207 establishments were served notices, and ₹2,01,400 have been collected in fines as administrative charges,” said the Assistant Health Officer of PMC, who is temporarily heading the vector-borne disease control program.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection transmitted through Aedes mosquitoes, causing flu-like symptoms, including high fever, severe headaches, joint and muscle pain, skin rash, and bleeding. In severe cases, it can lead to dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome, posing a risk of organ failure and death. Similarly, the chikungunya virus is spread by infected mosquitoes, with symptoms including fever, joint pain, headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, and rash.

The government’s proactive measures aim to curb the spread of dengue and protect the health and safety of its residents.