Even as monsoon season is yet to hit Karnataka in full swing, dengue fever has already begun to take a toll.
Bangalore Mirror reports that according to the statistics available with the Health and Family Welfare department, the state has seen close to 380 confirmed dengue cases over the past month.
Until the end of April, 494 cases of dengue were reported. The highest number of cases have been reported in Mysuru with 118 cases, followed by 113 cases in Dakshina Kannada. No deaths have been reported so far.
Dr. KL Shivaswamy, joint director (Malaria and Filaria), Department of Health and Family Welfare attributes the higher number of reported cases this year to the increased surveillance in the area, reports Mirror.
“We are expecting a rise in the number of cases in the coming months due to the monsoon and we have prepared all health workers to deal with the same,” he was quoted as saying.
He added that Rs.3 crore has been sought from the Centre under the National Rural Health Mission.
Saying that there could be a massive rise in the number of cases in the coming months, Dr.Pankaj Singhai, head of internal medicine, Manipal Hospital said that the data available with the department is grossly underreported.
Meanwhile the state may observe Anti-Dengue Day as part of intensifying awareness programmes.