Monsoon leads to rise in vector-borne diseases

Number of H1N1 cases increased in state since January

  Nearly a month after the onset of monsoon, Bengaluru is witnessing a spurt in the number of vector borne and communicable diseases.

Cases of dengue have increased from around 500 in the first week of May to 1,500 in June, while the same period saw 304 chikungunya cases and 28 influenza cases, which included viral infections and acute respiratory tract infection, said Dr Prakash Kumar, deputy director, National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme.

“These cases are expected when it rains. Senior citizens and children should take care as they get affected faster,” said Dr T Venkatesh, project coordinator, Non-communicable Diseases, BBMP. With intermittent rains, there are chances of cases going up, he said.Bengaluru has seen around 1,000 cases of viral fever after the onset of monsoon. “It is normal that these cases increase during rainy season. We expect more of these cases,” said Dr Venkatesh.

Officials from BBMP said that ASHA workers and ANMs are deployed to make sure the city is clean and there is no water logging. While the city saw a rise in such incidents, the state witnessed a rise in H1N1 cases this year. Confirmed cases of H1N1 in the state are 2,211 from January to June till date, with 15 deaths.

In the previous year, the state witnessed 110 cases of H1N1, while in 2015 as many as 3,565 were reported with 94 deaths. “The high numbers for H1N1 cases this year is due to a sudden outbreak of the virus,” said Dr Kumar. He said south India was affected by a large number of H1N1 cases during February and March.

The number of dengue cases this year in the state is 1,513 against around 6,000 with eight deaths in 2016. In 2015, the state witnessed around 5,800 cases with nine deaths. The number of chikungunya cases registered this year is 294 while last year saw around 1,500 cases and around 2,000 cases in 2015. “The temperature has changed and therefore the cases are also decreasing,” said Dr Kumar. He also said that these diseases are expected with the onset of monsoon.