Dengue threat looms large over Tumakuru district

Traders, workers at Batawadi APMC yard hit hard by fever

The district has witnessed a steady increase in the cases of dengue fever in the last six months. With the onset of monsoon the situation will only worsen. Tumakuru city in particular has seen a sharp increase in the number of people suffering from suspected dengue fever.

Ramesh, a worker at Batawadi APMC, had contracted high fever and died a few days later. The traders at the APMC and the family members of the deceased worker claim that he died of dengue fever. But the sources in the office of District Health and Family Welfare officer said it was a case of suspected dengue case and not a confirmed one.

According to District Surveillance Officer, (Health dept) Dr Purushottam told DH, “Since January 2017, 32 cases of dengue fever were reported in the district. Tumakuru city alone accounts for 21 cases. However, no deaths due to dengue were reported.”

The traders and the workers at Batawadi APMC claim that dengue threat is looming large over the APMC yard. “I had contracted dengue fever. I took treatment for it at MS Ramaiah Hospital in Bengaluru. I had spent Rs 40,000 for treatment. Almost every shop has one or two persons suffering from dengue fever. At the outset, Batawadi APMC yard looks clean and tidy. But many drains have remain clogged for months. Uncleared garbage and sewage have turned several pockets of the Batawadi APMC yard into breeding ground for mosquito, rued D M Khadeer, a trader.

Manjunath, a cashier and writer at Siri Provisional Stores, said, “Three workers in our shop had contracted dengue fever. I was also down with dengue. We have spent quite a money for treatment which went for weeks. The fever has rendered me pale and weak.”

The admission of dengue patients in private hospitals in Tumakuru is increasing with each passing day. Many patients with high fever are being referred to Tumakuru hospitals from taluk centres.

Curb mosquito menace
Dengue fever is transmitted by the bite of an Aedes mosquito, infected with dengue virus. The mosquito gets infected when it bites a person with dengue virus in blood.

According to the Health department officials, Aedes mosquito breeds in rainwater collected in articles like old tyres, water tanks and drains around the house during monsoon. And the only option to keep the dengue at bay is to put a curb on the mosquito menace by keeping the surroundings should be kept dry and clean.

Palike doing precious little
The residents have complained that the Palike is doing precious little in keep the city clean and tidy.

"Swachh Tumakuru is just a slogan by Palike and nothing more. The city has become one large dump yard.

Garbage is strewn all over the place. The Palike is not bothered to lift the garbage dumped in street corners and vacant sites. The civic body has not taken up fogging in residential areas. If such is the case, how can we curb mosquito menace and control dengue, questions Kumaraswamy, an aggrieved resident of Sriramnagar.
DH News Service