Huge variance in BBMP, health department’s dengue case count

BENGALURU: Even as cases of dengue are rising in the city, there seems to be a huge discrepancy in the number of positive cases being reported by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and the Health Department. While the BBMP has reported 4,194 cases from January, the Health Department bulletin puts the number at 2,174 cases.

Across the state, the number of dengue cases is 7,547 and the opposition BJP has accused the Congress government of failing to prevent the spread of the disease. Amidst this, the huge difference in numbers for Bengaluru has led to suspicion.

Palike Special Commissioner Vikas Kishor Suralkar explained, “We keep updating the Health Department and they have to process the data. As of Monday evening, we have detected 4,000-plus case and we are continuing surveillance. In July, we are getting an average of 130 cases per day. With the monsoon season, the cases are rising”.

Palike Special Commissioner Vikas Kishor Suralkar briefing the media on the dengue case count.

He further said it will take about 2-3 days to verify each case. “The number of cases are rising more in Bengaluru East and Mahadevapura zones. So far, we have covered 15 lakh houses during our survey and in the 6-7 days, we will cover the remaining 10 lakh susceptible houses”, he said.