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Bengaluru witnessed around 3,500 cases of dengue since January till date, this year. The overall number of confirmed cases of dengue in the state is 8,860.
But the increase in the number of dengue cases in Bengaluru is because of more reporting of cases, claim BBMP officials.
“Bengaluru has more number of cases as its population is high and more private hospitals are reporting the cases compared to last year," said Dr Lokesh M N, chief health officer, BBMP.
He said BBMP was receiving reports of confirmed cases from around 600 private hospitals, laboratories and nursing homes. The previous years, it did not have any report from private hospitals.
Dr Prakash Kumar, deputy director, National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), said the number of dengue cases was higher than the previous year. It was around 6,500 from January to December 2016, while there is an increase of 2,360 cases till August this year.
“People are storing water in their houses due to water shortage this year. This is a perfect condition for mosquito breeding. Interrupted rainfall is worsening the situation,” said Kumar.
Although government officials say the higher number of dengue cases was normal due to increased reporting, doctors from private hospitals say it is an alarming situation.
Dr Kalpana Janardhan, senior consultant physician, Apollo Hospital, said she sees at least 15 cases of dengue a week.
“We are running out of beds due to admissions of more cases. We have to make them wait in the emergency room till wards are available,” she said.
Dr Pankaj Singhai, internal medicine, Manipal Hospitals, said there was a steep rise in the number of dengue cases reported in the hospital. The hospital has an acute shortage of beds, he said.
“People panic on coming to know it is dengue. Even if the case does not need admission, they insist that the doctors admit the patient,” he said.
A team of experts from the union health ministry is on a visit in the state to review the public health status, especially of vector-borne diseases.
Dr P K Srivasta, joint director, NVBDCP - who heads the team - said they have visited Tumakuru, Mandya, Bangalore Urban districts and areas under BBMP. He said the report was yet to be submitted to the state government.
But the increase in the number of dengue cases in Bengaluru is because of more reporting of cases, claim BBMP officials.
“Bengaluru has more number of cases as its population is high and more private hospitals are reporting the cases compared to last year," said Dr Lokesh M N, chief health officer, BBMP.
He said BBMP was receiving reports of confirmed cases from around 600 private hospitals, laboratories and nursing homes. The previous years, it did not have any report from private hospitals.
Dr Prakash Kumar, deputy director, National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), said the number of dengue cases was higher than the previous year. It was around 6,500 from January to December 2016, while there is an increase of 2,360 cases till August this year.
“People are storing water in their houses due to water shortage this year. This is a perfect condition for mosquito breeding. Interrupted rainfall is worsening the situation,” said Kumar.
Although government officials say the higher number of dengue cases was normal due to increased reporting, doctors from private hospitals say it is an alarming situation.
Dr Kalpana Janardhan, senior consultant physician, Apollo Hospital, said she sees at least 15 cases of dengue a week.
“We are running out of beds due to admissions of more cases. We have to make them wait in the emergency room till wards are available,” she said.
Dr Pankaj Singhai, internal medicine, Manipal Hospitals, said there was a steep rise in the number of dengue cases reported in the hospital. The hospital has an acute shortage of beds, he said.
“People panic on coming to know it is dengue. Even if the case does not need admission, they insist that the doctors admit the patient,” he said.
A team of experts from the union health ministry is on a visit in the state to review the public health status, especially of vector-borne diseases.
Dr P K Srivasta, joint director, NVBDCP - who heads the team - said they have visited Tumakuru, Mandya, Bangalore Urban districts and areas under BBMP. He said the report was yet to be submitted to the state government.
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(Published 20 August 2017, 20:57 IST)
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