JOIN US The towns and the rural pockets of the district are in the grip of epidemics. While the villages of Hungund taluk including Guggalmari, Hirekodagali, Hanumanal, SB Gudur among others are reeling under malaria, Sirur in Bagalkot taluk is hit by elephantiasis.
Blood samples of over 79,000 people in the district were examined for various vector-borne diseases. Of which, as many as 272 persons have been found infected with elephantiasis. The tropical disease is very aggressive in Sirur, where as many as 52 persons are suffering from elephantiasis.
As if this isn't enough, the deadly dengue fever has spread its wings in Gaddankeri tanda in the taluk. Deepa Prakash Lamani (12) of the tanda succumbed to dengue fever on Thursday. So far, three children of Gaddankeri tanda have died of dengue fever in the recent past.
District Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr Rajkumar Yeragal told Deccan Herald, "Eight confirmed cases of H1N1 reported in the district this year (till Nov 10). Of which two persons have died of swine flu. Further, 35 persons were found suffering from dengue fever, 486 cases of malaira and 272 confirmed cases of elephantiasis were reported in the district."
The department has taken up adequate measures to bring the epidemics under control. There is no shortage of medicine, the official said.
The district officer attributed the rise in epidemics to vagaries of weather. He cautioned the people against the exploitation by the private hospitals and quacks by creating false panic about the diseases.
Meanwhile, ZP member Huvappa Rathod has complained that the people from rural areas are finding it difficult to get treatment for the vector-borne diseases at the government hospitals in the district.
The ZP member has urged the district minister, legislators and the deputy commissioner to intervene and take necessary action to deploy medical teams, along with medicine, to the villages reeling under epidemics.
Disease Cases*
Malaria 486
Elephantiasis 272
Dengue 35
H1N1 08
Chikunhunya 02
*Since Jan 1, 2015