JOIN USA total of 55 confirmed cases of Dengue and 200 suspected cases of Dengue have been reported in the district from January till the end of May, district vector borne diseases control officer Dr Arun Kumar said, adding 1,963 malaria cases have been detected in the same duration.
He was speaking at malaria and dengue awareness jatha organised by Zilla Panchayat, district hospital, Mangaluru City Corporation and other government departments, in Mangaluru on Friday.
The people were advised to have their blood tested immediately after being affected with fever. Dengue is caused by the mosquito Aedes aegypti, which breeds even in a very little amount of water, unlike Anopheles. While the treatment is not definitive for dengue, the symptoms are treated. Decrease in platelet counts, bleeding tendency and hypertension are some of the symptoms of dengue, he said.
When it comes to malaria, immediate treatment followed by blood test could address to. However, the disease is 95 percent controllable with personal protection such as use of vapourisers, mosquito coils, mosquito nets etc.
Dr Arun said June is observed as Malaria prevention month. Along with creating awareness on malaria, people are also being alerted on dengue, he said and added that awareness programmes are being held at every taluk of the district. Fogging is being carried out by the health department with two mobile teams deployed in each taluk.
Senior Health Assistant Bhaskar Rao said overhead tanks, cement tanks must be closed properly, plastic containers, tyres, coconut shells etc should be disposed off, Guppy or Gambusia fish should be reared in wells. Water in air coolers, flower pots should be emptied regularly. Use of medicated mosquito nets, is recommended, he said.
Briefing reporters, Dr Arun said the recent death due to dengue was that of a nine year old in Padangadi in Belthangadi, on June 17. There have been three suspect deaths due to dengue. One case in Puttur has been tested positive for dengue while the one in Neriya is tested negative. The jatha, which was taken out from Tagore park to the DC’s office premises, was flagged off by Zilla Panchayat CEO P I Shrividya. Health department officials and staff and nursing students took part in the jatha.
District Surgeon Dr H R Rajeshwari Devi, district Health and family welfare officer Ramakrishna Rao were present.