BBMP workers fumigate residential streets to control the spread of dengue.
Credit: DH File Photo
Bengaluru: Preventive efforts appear to have paid off for Bengaluru, with the city reporting less than half the dengue cases so far this year compared to the same period in 2024.
Data from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike's health division shows 824 cases were recorded between January 1 and June 4, around 48.1% of the 1,712 cases reported during the corresponding period last year. Notably, May 2024 alone had seen 782 cases, while this May registered 299. Another 70 cases have been confirmed in the first four days of June.
Mahadevapura and East zones have recorded the highest numbers this year, with 301 and 150 cases, respectively. Last year, these two zones together accounted for 861 cases by May-end. Officials attribute this to the high concentration of construction sites in these areas, where building and road works continue through the season.
Dengue cases typically rise between May and August in Bengaluru.
Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao recently noted that nearly half the state’s cases are being reported from the city. To contain the outbreak, 240 health inspectors and 700 volunteers have been deployed.
Suralkar Vikas Kishor, Special Commissioner (Health), BBMP, said that the situation was under control. “Mosquito breeding control measures are ongoing, but we must not lower our guard. Households must avoid water stagnation and alert authorities to any construction sites flouting norms,” he said.
The BBMP has issued 3,583 notices to builders and construction managers, collecting Rs 37.9 lakh in fines. In the past week alone, 93 notices were served, and Rs 1.09 lakh collected. Mahadevapura Zone saw the highest number of violations.
Dr Ravindra Meti, District Health Officer, cautioned that the intermittent rains could trigger a spike in cases. “We are conducting weekly larval surveys and distributing repellents wherever possible. The district is doing better than last year, but vigilance is crucial with patchy rainfall,” he said.
Over 10,000 municipal workers have been trained to clear dengue breeding sites. A special awareness drive, covering all schools and colleges within the BBMP limits, began on Monday and will run till June 14 to educate students about mosquito control and preventing water stagnation at home.