There have been as many as 25,408 dengue cases registered in Karnataka, with 12 deaths. Hassan, Dharwad, and Shivamogga have all reported two deaths, while Mysuru, Haveri, and Davangere have each reported one case.
As of September 2nd, Bengaluru’s Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), topped the dengue fever chart with 11,590 positive cases and three deaths, followed by Mandya (872), Hassan (835), Mysuru (820), and Kalaburgi (793).
Due to the surge in dengue cases, the Government of Karnataka has declared dengue an epidemic disease in the state. To enhance prevention efforts, the following regulations are being enforced:
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•All landowners, occupiers and builders must take necessary measures to prevent… pic.twitter.com/cr58bbroZb
Monetary fines imposed by the state to curb increasing cases
As part of tough steps to curb the outbreak, the announcement empowers authorities to issue house owners who allow mosquito breeding on their property with a fine of Rs 400 in urban areas and Rs 200 in rural regions. Commercial businesses, restaurants, small shops, and sellers that violate the health norms would face a punishment of Rs 1,000 in urban regions and Rs 500 in rural areas.
If health specifications are violated, owners of active, abandoned, and vacant building sites will be fined Rs 2000 (urban areas) and Rs 1000 (rural areas). Furthermore, if violators do not comply, they will be fined 50% more for each week.
The government has asked officials to undertake routine inspections, adopt cleanliness measures, and give medical assistance to impacted areas. To minimize mosquito breeding, health professionals should cover or secure water storage containers, sumps, or overhead tanks with a lid. Additionally, solid waste should be disposed of to prevent water accumulation.
Karnataka Declares Dengue An Epidemic, To Fine House, Shop Owners@pratibaraman reports pic.twitter.com/CUv5iv0ayV
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Health officials have been asked to conduct frequent inspections of all vacant places, building premises, water tanks, parks, and playgrounds, as well as to enforce the Health & Family Welfare Department’s standards.
In July, Bangalore Rural MP Dr C N Manjunath, a cardiologist, urged the Karnataka government to designate dengue as a state medical emergency due to growing instances. He had warned that if mosquito breeding was not controlled, it might lead to chikungunya, the Zika virus, and other serious diseases.
Dengue and its growing burden across the globe
Dengue (break-bone fever) is a viral ailment spread by mosquitos to humans. It is more prevalent in tropical and subtropical environments.
Most persons who contract dengue are unlikely to have symptoms. However, for those who do, the most common symptoms are high fever, headache, muscle aches, nausea, and rash. The majority recover within 1-2 weeks. However, some people suffering from severe dengue might require hospitalization. In severe circumstances, dengue may prove fatal.
As per the World Health Organization, dengue is treated with pain medicine as there is no specific treatment currently. Acetaminophen (paracetamol) is commonly used for alleviating pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen and aspirin ought to be avoided given that they can raise the risk of bleeding.
Dengue fever has increased rapidly worldwide in recent decades, with cases reported to WHO rising from 5,05,430 in 2000 to 5.2 million in 2019. The vast majority of cases are asymptomatic or mild and self-managed, hence the actual number of dengue cases remains underreported.
The WHO in its media advisory stated that dengue cases peaked in 2023, affecting over 80 countries across the globe. Since the beginning of 2023, continued transmission, along with an unexpected surge in dengue infections, has resulted in a record high of over 6.5 million illnesses and more than 7300 dengue-related deaths.
Why are dengue cases on the rise in Karnataka?
In the current scenario, it is worth noting that the cases of dengue have rapidly increased in the state of Karnataka. However, the data from the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), which is part of the Union Government’s Directorate General of Health Services, reveal that this is not the greatest surge in the state has seen to date.
Karnataka had the greatest number of dengue cases in the recent decade in 2023, with 19,300 confirmed cases. The highest number of deaths was reported in 2019, with 17 people succumbing to the vector-borne disease, followed by 11 in 2023. Apart from that, the number of dengue deaths has been below 10 since 2014. This year, 25,408 dengue cases have been registered in Karnataka and 12 deaths have been reported so far.
Dengue transmission is influenced by a variety of ecological factors, especially when it comes to Karnataka. Unplanned growth activities, improper water storage, migration, and poor solid waste management all have played an important role in escalating the spread of Dengue. Dengue-causing mosquitos, Aedes aegypti also breeds in fresh water and bite during the day.
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Dengue is more widespread in Karnataka’s urban and semi-urban areas, where human populations are denser and breeding habitats are more widespread. The transmission cycle begins when a mosquito bites someone infected with the dengue virus. The mosquito then becomes a carrier of the virus, which it can transfer to other humans through successive bites. Karnataka’s warm and humid climate, particularly during and after the monsoon season, creates ideal circumstances for mosquito breeding and raises the risk of Dengue transmission.
In July, Mohammed Sharief, State Programme Officer, NVBDCP stated that there was no need to declare an emergency in the state due to dengue. He had also said that the number of cases would decrease by mid-August. But, the cases spiked with such force that the state was forced to declare the disease as an epidemic on Tuesday, 3rd September.
it is crucial to note that the spread of dengue is very common in the state of Karnataka during this season of the year. Every year thousands of pupils are infected with the virus which approximately lasts for 2 months.
The first case of Dengue this year is believed to have occurred in Karnataka somewhere around June. The virus spread massively in the month leading to 4,800 infections already recording a 60% increase compared to the same period in 2023. The number has now surpassed the mark of 25,000 till September 2024.
What measures are being taken by Karnataka govt to curb dengue?
In the circular published earlier, the state had said that it would establish a central war room at Arogya Soudha in Bengaluru, with parallel control rooms in all districts. These war rooms could serve as critical hubs for data collection and situation evaluation, ensuring coordinated and rapid responses to the dengue outbreak.
The state had also stated that each district would form a task force, chaired by the Deputy Commissioner. The task group would comprise key authorities from the health, urban development, education, and non-governmental organization sectors to ensure a comprehensive approach to dengue control.
Health officials, assisted by volunteers, have further planned to undertake biweekly inspections to locate and eradicate mosquito breeding places. Urban Local Bodies will seek participants for this duty, paying them Rs 200 each day.
Weekly public programs encouraging cleanliness and dengue prevention were planned with the participation of local representatives and community members. These efforts aimed to encourage the public to maintain sanitary conditions and appropriately manage water storage. The state had also asked the district authorities to identify dengue hotspots and ramp up source reduction operations, such as mass larvicide spraying and fogging.
Hospitals have been directed to reserve beds for dengue patients and ensure the availability of testing kits, critical medications, and blood components. Free testing and treatment will be available at all healthcare facilities, as per the circular.
Notably, despite all this, the number of dengue cases in the state kept on rising crossing the mark of 25,000 cases today. The state government has also received criticism for its poor handling of the dengue outbreak. The opposition earlier accused the government of incompetence and poor management, citing a lack of proper preventive measures and inadequate healthcare facilities. The state then slammed the BJP for pointing out the lacunas and instead indicated alleged poor management in the state by the BJP during the COVID-19 spread.
The mismanaged hospitals, overcharging of the basic medical tests, and lack of coordination from the increased population further highlight the potential risk of dengue spike in the state. The government instead of playing politics over the issue and blaming the opposition political parties is expected to look into the seriousness of the situation and manage the spread wisely resulting in the elimination of the epidemic.
