Rural areas in DK grapple with outbreak of dengue

Mangaluru: S pread of dengue in rural areas of Puttur and Sullia taluks in Dakshina Kannada has put the district health department on alert mode.
More cases of dengue have been reported from interior places in Kadaba, Noojibalthila, Kodimbala, Koyla, Kaniyur, Bilinele in Puttur, Thodikana, Bellare, Amaramudnoor, Madappady, Ajjavara, Ivarnadu, Nalkoor, Guthigar in Sullia and a few places in Belthangady taluks.While the district has recorded 65 cases of dengue from January this year, nearly 30 cases were reported from these regions of Puttur and Sullia taluks.
According to the health department sources, at present nearly 30 people in Kadaba, Noojibalthila, Kodimbala and other nearby areas are suffering from symptoms and most of them are suspected to be dengue patients. The health department has already sent a team of doctors and health workers to monitor the situation.
District vector-borne diseases cont rol officer Dr Arun Kumar told TOI that the health department team has visited places where dengue cases are reported. "We have visited villages, where suspected cases are reported, and carried out tests. Measures are being taken to reduce mosquito sources. The possibility of the spread of vector-borne diseases is less during summer. However, stagnation of water in areca nut and other farms in interior places of Sullia and Puttur taluks has led to increase in mosquito production," Dr Arun said.
Symptomatic treatment is being given to all suspected patients. Blood samples are collected for NS1 Elisa test to confirm dengue and tests are also being conducted to check malaria, he said. "We have initiated measures to create awareness under the information, education and communication (IEC) programme. All measures to reduce mosquito breeding source will be taken," he added.