Take preventive measures for dengue, BBMP chief instructs officials

Bengaluru: To prevent a dengue outbreak in the wake of the rains, BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath on Thursday instructed officials across departments to take precautionary measures.

In a virtual meeting, he noted that dengue awareness activities must be ramped up and penalties must be levied on those who do not maintain clean surroundings.

Interdepartmental coordination with the health, horticulture, forest, road infrastructure, and solid waste management departments must go on to identify waterlogging areas and prevent those situations, he said.

Harsh Gupta, Principal Secretary of the State Health and Family Welfare Department, instructed officials to identify and fog potential larvae breeding areas.

He noted that fever clinics should come up in areas where more dengue cases are reported. "Those who do not maintain cleanliness in vacant lots, building construction sites, and other places should be fined," he said. 

Gupta observed that a separate nodal officer should be appointed for each zone, along with an entomologist. Necessary dengue testing kits will be arranged for, he said.

BBMP Special Commissioner (Health) Suralkar Vikas Kishore said that a comprehensive, zone-wise plan will be developed to control the spread of dengue. He added that a fine of Rs 24 lakh was imposed on people after mosquito breeding sites were identified.

A municipality worker fumigates a park in a bid to kill mosquitos in Bengaluru.

Dengue cases in BBMP limits

2022: 2,335
2023: 11,136
2024: 15,282
2025: 329 (From January to March 31)