Dengue, Chikungunya under control in Karnataka:Official

"There is no cause for panic among the people about dengue and chikungunya fevers as both have been contained, they are very much under control and no dengue deaths have been reported in the state this year", Health Secretary E V Ramana Reddy told reporters here.

As against 1,764 dengue cases reported last year, out of which there were eight casualties, this year the number of cases reported so far were 742 and there had been no deaths, he said.

There has also been a marked decrease in Chikungunya cases in the state with 588 cases reported so far against 3,239 cases reported last year, Reddy said. As far swine flu, there had been a 34 per cent decrease in the number of deaths to 49 so far this year compared to 135 fatalities reported last year. In all 184, H1N1 deaths have been reported in the state since June 2009, he said.

In view of monsoon and subsequent winter season, it was expected that the pandemic of influenza-A (H1NI) might prolong further. Therefore, all preventive and control strategies have been further consolidated and continued in terms of the surveillance, categorisation of patients, providing timely treatment and awareness creation among public, to minimise morbidity and mortality, Reddy said.

While examination, treatment facilities and separate wards had been made available in six government hospitals and 87 private hospitals in Bangalore, all district hospitals had been supplied with Tamiflu and personal protective equipment. If required, more drugs would be supplied from the stock at the state level, he said.

At present, four hospitals in the city were carrying out the confirmation tests for HIN1, Reddy said, adding medical officers, paramedical staff and supporting staff of all government and  private hospitals who are involved in this programme have been vaccinated. City civic body Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner Siddaiah said not a single case of dengue death had been reported in the city since last year.