JOIN USThe State Health Department has reported 251 dengue cases and 310 chikungunya cases this year from January to June.
The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) alone has recorded 112 dengue and 41 chikungunya cases with more than 50 cases being reported from Bangalore East region mainly Shivajinagar, Neelasandra, Mahadevapura and Byatarayanapura.
Dr L T Gayatri, Chief Health officer (CHO), for the BBMP Health Department blames the BWSSB for its erratic water supply, which has caused the outbreak. "Water is supplied once in a week in many parts of the City and residents normally store water in their houses. Stored water in any container is a breeding ground for mosquitoes which has caused an increase in the number of dengue cases," she says.
She said that despite conducting many health programmes and creating awareness among people they have been very careless in keeping their surroundings clean.
"Whenever our health workers visited homes, many residents have chided them and told them that the outbreak has happened because of BBMP," she added.
At present the cases that are tested positive for dengue are not very serious. However, if the person suffers from dengue hemorrhagic fever or Dengue Shock Syndrome where platelets transfusion needs to be done, those cases become very critical. However, no deaths have been reported so far, she said.
A large number of fever cases are being reported everyday in some of the major government hospitals. According to Dr Prasanna Kumar, in charge Resident Medical Officer at Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital, nearly 64 cases of dengue and 11 cases of chikungunya were reported in the last two months. "The Civic bylaws are violated in the City. The erratic digging of roads stagnate rainwater and irregular water supply force people to store water in open containers, which become breeding ground for mosquitoes," said Dr Heera Raikar, Deputy Director (Malaria and Filaria).
However, highly placed sources from the Health Department said that BBMP is not efficient in dealing with public health programmes as the health workers are inexperienced in handling such issues.