BENGALURU: With 12 lakh houses in the city vulnerable to dengue, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is now preparing to conduct rapid tests in suseptible areas. The rapid tests are being considered after a rise in dengue cases in 17 wards of the corporation.
With the rainy season setting in, the city has witnessed a rise in dengue cases with 1,024 registered in the last 20 days itself. With the number of cases expected to rise, the civic body plans to survey 12 lakh houses in the eight zones. Most of these houses are in slums and low-lying arears, close to rajakaluves and adjacent to each other. Wherever any symptoms are seen, rapid tests will be conducted.
“Chief Minister Siddaramaiah presided over a meeting, wherein the health minister was also present, to take stock of the dengue situation in the state and in the BBMP limits. We can only prevent the spread of the disease with the cooperation of citizens. We have reviewed the micro plans and suggested suitable changes”, said BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath.
“About 1,230 cases have been recorded between January and June. Last year, during the same period, there were 732 and there is marked rise in confirmed cases this time. Dengue spreads more in the intermittent range when there is no rainfall. We are preparing ourselves in case there is a rise in cases. We have formed blocks of 1,000 houses where ANM and ASHA workers along with health inspectors, will conduct larva survey and create awareness. They will also check for fever case and report to the primary health centres”, he noted.
So far, 24 cases have been recorded in Adugodi, 12 each in C V Raman Nagar, Bellandur, MS Palya and New Thippasandra, 14 in Rajajinagar, 13 each in Amruthahalli, Konanakunte and HSR Layout and 10 cases in Mahalakshmi Layout.
“We are targeting the urban poor, places where the population density is more and low-lying areas. We are also trying to rope in NSS volunteers and nursing students”, the chief commissioner added.