B’luru sees rise in dengue cases after rain

BENGALURU: With the rain subsiding over the last few days, the city is witnessing a rise in dengue cases which have abruptly increased in 55 wards. The Health Department reported that in 15 days, 173 cases have been suspected and the city has become a dengue hot spot in the past 20 days.

Dengue is spread by Aedes aegypti, the yellow fever mosquito.

The breeding of mosquitoes is a result of rainwater accumulating in low-lying areas, drainages, lakes and rajakaluves. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Health Department has advised that all hospitals be on high alert in view of the number of dengue cases rising in the city.

Triloka Chandra, Special Commissioner, BBMP.

“We have observed more dengue cases rising in some of the wards. We have been taking up all mosquito control activities in all the wards. We have prioritised and implemented surveillance measures as the number of reported cases has increased. Around 200 dengue cases have been reported this month. Particularly in the south and east of Bengaluru, the cases have been more”, said BBMP Special Commissioner Triloka Chandra.

A total of 1,416 suspected dengue cases have been detected from January to September 15 this year, especially since the onset of the monsoon in June. Of those, 982 cases have been confirmed, creating concern among health officials.