Increasing number of dengue fever cases are being reported and doctors say the numbers are expected to climb up in the coming weeks.

Dengue fever is transmitted to humans through the bite of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which feeds during the day.

There are two to three cases admitted every third day in Mallya Hospital and there are two patients affected with dengue in the ICU who are serious, says Chief of Medicine, Mallya Hospital, Dr Chowti. Dr Suraj, a consultant physician at Jain Hospital says there have been 30 cases of dengue in the last two months. There was one death due to dengue in the beginning of the year, he said. There have been 190 cases of dengue at St Johns’s Medical College and Hospital in July and August, says Consultant Physician at St John’s Dr Joseph Rajendran.

As long as monsoons continue, there will be dengue cases, said Dr Chowti. The number of cases are likely to increase in the coming weeks according to Dr Suraj.

According to the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Services, there have been no cases of dengue deaths reported this year. The Directorate is undertaking campaigns to spread awareness on taking precautionary measures and personal protection, fogging, providing free mosquito nets, adding temichos, a larvicide to water.

They have involved Panchayat Raj institutions and  Anganwadi workers to spread awareness.

BBMP commissioner Dr S Subramanya said that so far only five cases of dengue have been confirmed in Bangalore City. As per the records available with National Institute of Virology, where tests to confirm dengue are conducted, nine blood samples were sent to the institute and only five of them confirmed dengue.

Referring to media reports that 55 cases of dengue reported in M S Ramaiah Hospital, Dr Subramanya said he has asked the hospital authorities to give case sheets of all 55 cases. “Only Elisa test can confirm dengue. However, the hospital has declared dengue cases without conducting proper test”, he said.